Showing off my talents

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Here is an intentionally blurry picture of some of my notes from seeing a screening of Big Hero 6. I think I did pretty well on writing in straight non-tangling lines in a pitch black theater.

My review will be done soon and I will link to it when it is up.

Did you notice something…

Even though I’ve been quiet the past couple of days I did update something on the site.

Not sure?

Take a gander at the sidebar and you will find a Featured Publications tab for this year. Yup, finally back in the writing game. And you know what? It feels really good. I was born to write.

So please, keep updated with my blog as you will be seeing more and more of me.

Gerard Way at Irving Plaza

Gerard Way is now on his first solo tour (complimented by the/his band The Hormones). He is playing medium sized venues compared to the stadiums he and his former band My Chemical Romance once sold out.

He has also been my role model, hero, and favorite musician since I was about 12 years old.

I firmly believe that there are a select bunch of people on this earth that you share a kinetic, same wavelength kind of vibe with. Gerard Way is one of those people for me, and probably at the top of that list. I’ve seen him in My Chemical Romance over half a dozen times. But nothing, nothing could have prepared me for seeing him at Irving Plaza on October 20, 2014.

I was going to this concert alone and decided to head into the city at around 9 in the morning. I got to the venue at around 10:30 a.m., due to my poor navigational skills. There were about 15 people in front of me already, and it was pretty cold. I first made friends with the girl and her father in front of me. They had trekked all the way from Quebec for this show, and it was her first time seeing Gerard Way (she had never seen MCR in concert before).

I made fast friends also with the high school aged girls behind me. We each took turns to get food and bathroom breaks throughout the day. I was lucky to have met such great people who ‘save your place.’ I brought a deck of cards and we played a couple rounds of Memory. Most of us on the line were dressed in black and we were targeted for the peculiar event of a lady walking by us showing us her phone- which had a picture of Jesus on the crucifix. It was strange.

About two hours before we would be let into the venue security split the lines between regular pass holders and fast pass. I had the fast pass. I was bumped up in the line and made some new friends while waiting. No tux, no bev guys!

Then doors opened, bags searched, and a flood of footsteps up the flight of stairs to the show room. I landed a barricade spot, off to the right. It was another hour of waiting, joking with the people around me, singing to the songs playing over the loud speaker -many of them popular when I was a middle schooler.

The opening band, The Eeries, played for about a half hour. They were good, passionate musicians. Their songs were a bit predictable in structure -wherein I caught onto the lyrics in the middle of the song and I was able to sing along. A half hour turnover of the stage and at nine Gerard Way took the stage.

Way played the whole album and three additional songs (one being an encore). He is a spectacular musician because he doesn’t just perform with his voice, he performs with his soul. It stems out to his fingertips and toes. He convulses with his music. And when he steps on to the edge of the stage, extends his shaking fingers out to you, you can swear in the brief moment your eyes lock you’re psychically linked. His eyes are psychotically electrifying. Way has a wild look. He believes in you so very, very much and he needs you to scream and sing as loud and with as much heart as you can.

I am the most alive in that moment.

There are also times when he looks away from the crowd for a second, microphone still hanging in his grasp, and he breaks out into a smile. It’s one of those beaming smiling you can’t control, it manifested itself wide and natural on his face. And in the next second he is back to his stage persona, belting out lyrics, that smiled wiped off his face a long time ago.

Way kept in his enlightened socially progressive between song banter. He talked about being a feminist, transgender rights, and just being in control of yourself and doing what you want. He is too good to me.

After the concert we briefly waited to see if he would come out and visit us at the barricade in the venue. After it became apparent this night he wouldn’t be making that stop, I exited the venue and got on line to wait for him to come out the stage door. I chatted briefly with James Dewees who is such a chill guy. The line got moved to one side and I dashed over to take my chance at a spot. At around 11:45 p.m. he came out and started signing. We weren’t allowed to take pictures due to time, just one autograph and an elevator speech. He also gave us hugs.

I got the opportunity to tell him what his presence in my life for the past 10 years has meant to me. I told him I couldn’t be me without him. He responded by saying ‘Thanks, I like to hear things like that!’ He looked so tired but generally happy to be meeting with us. Despite his grand stage persona he seemed pretty shy. He will forever have my respect for just standing out there for a long time meeting with us. How many artists can you say actually do that?

I walked down the street to the corner in a daze. I hailed a taxi, gave him my destination, and broke into tears.

Gerard Way is my hero. I want to do things in my life that would make him proud because he makes me happy to be alive.

This was an unbelievable night. Thank you. A million times.

 

 

New York Comic Con Recap!

Phew! It is a damn good thing today is  Columbus Day because I definitely need a day to recuperate. New York Comic Con was intense! Intense in all the good ways, of course!

My first time at NYCC was in 2011, and I only got a taste of what it was since I was there for a few hours on the final day. This time around I won a 3-day pass from the wonderful Pete’s Basement Comic Book Talk Show and came equipped with a better knowledge of events and the floor layout.

Day 1

I took my cousin Sandra as my first guest (I won 2 passes) and she has never been to a Comic Con. I think she totally loved it just by the sheer volume of pictures she took. We arrived to the Javits Center before 10am in hopes of making our way to the Marvel booth. All went well until we got inside, I wasn’t sure where we were in relativity to the booth (we walked in closest to the Weta Workshop booth) and by the time we elbowed our way to Marvel the line for the raffles was looped around a couple times. We still got on line praying for a miracle. Marvel set up their panels and autographing session with Clark Gregg a bit differently then the rest of the Con, you basically get on line and pick a ballot. Some ballots give you the wristband and some don’t so it is a complete gamble. We were maybe 10 people away from getting a chance to pick a raffle before we were told they were out. I’m guessing you have to seek your first-born child to get into a Marvel panel/screening because I lucked out the rest of the weekend too.

Denied but not defeated, my cousin and I perused the showroom, gaping at the ginormous Bumblebee at the Chevrolet booth (real person in there too). I bought an Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. t-shirt from the Super Hero Stuff booth and I made it my mission to also track down a Funko Pop Vinvl of The Winter Soldier. That figure has been just as elusive as the character is and I finally found him an hour before we left. I also bought an original Winter Soldier paining by Tony Santiago and a Hello Kitty style Winter Soldier from I believe Tom Kelly. It’s pretty evident that I really love this character and I am so glad there was plenty of great artwork that has interpreted him.

Comic Con also has a lot of fun photo booths scattered all over the place. My cousin and I took lots of them and had lots of goofy faces to give the camera. Artists Alley was also another highlight. We spent a lot of time just watching these artists at work and admiring their craft. I know who to keep an eye out for as I learn more about comics and what I like in reading and viewing comics. It was really something special to meet Allen Bellman who drew for Marvel in the 1940s and 1950s.

Clark Gregg (Phil Coulson in the Marvel Cinematic Universe) was doing his signing at the Marvel booth. We were able to watch him and got some photos of him. Gregg has one of those demeanors that make him look so warm and caring. Two of the people getting autographs signed had a phenomenal cosplay of Captain America and The Black Widow and Gregg jumped up to take a special picture with them. He is a total fanboy and proud.

Our day ended around 4:30/5ish. My cousin had to leave to go to work and I left with her because I needed her 3-day pass for Saturday since I was bringing a friend.

Day 2

Saturday was easily the busiest day. My friend Cat and I arrived about an hour in and it was already bustling. Unfortunately, it had been a very rainy morning and while I kept my Winter Soldier metal arm dry, putting it on my own wet arm was a bad, bad, terrible idea. I suspected the top part was beginning to crack the night before when I was trying it on one last time but I felt it crack more on this morning. There is still no visible crack but it is going to need a Franken-fix on it. The water also smudged some of the paint. I couldn’t get the arm up to my shoulder due to my arm being wet so it didn’t look right in its placement. Also, I need to make the cuts better so I can have some mobility with it. ONE MORE THING: A lot of people kept bumping into my arm. Dear people, please try to respect anyone wearing a homemade costume, it is likely that we spent a LOT of time and MONEY on it and even if it’s not that good it is still near and dear to our hearts.

Despite my cosplay snafu I enjoyed the rest of my day. I didn’t buy much except for lunch, beer, and an Agent Jemma Simmons identification card. My bank account needed a rest from how much I spent on Friday. We tried to get into a couple  panel’s such as the Mary Sue one on women in comics but we were shut out. We even showed up an hour before it would start. I guess I just don’t know how to get into them!

We met up with some other friends who had taken advantage of the fact you can buy alcohol. It was fun to talk with them and hear about their Con stories. I ended up taking the same train ride home with them which was definitely nicer than traveling by myself.

Day 3

I arrived on time and by myself this time. My friend Erin was caught up in an assignment and didn’t make it until the late afternoon, but I am so glad she got to enjoy herself for a few hours. I did bring my nice D-SLR camera so I roamed the floor taking shots of people cosplaying. I’m always in awe over these costumes. The time, love, and craftsmanship that goes into them is astounding. It’s interesting to see what people chose to cosplay, to see what’s important to them.

Erin and I had a lot of fun trying on silly hats and goggles. We had a really awesome conversation with one of the guys from the Weta Workshop (post will come later). I bought some cool prints made from a 95 year old press machine and also a Doctor Who tumbler so I can enjoy my pumpkin spice beverages any time I want.

There was a guy outside of the Javits Center dressed up as The Doctor and he brought his own Tardis. He was a great sport and a fantastic Ten impersonator. He definitely put a lot of smiles of peoples faces that day, including mine.

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New York Comic Con was a blast and I wish it was every month. I barely slept with how excited I was every night. There a few things left in my adulthood that cause that kind of reaction. It had a way of making me feel so relaxed. I was surrounded by things I love and people who love them just as passionately as I do. And like the heroes we admire, I had no fear.

Well, there’s now less than 365 days until next year, time to get planning!

Here are couple pictures I took throughout the weekend:

Arm Part Deux for Comic Con!



Here are some progress shots! I am now near completion!!


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I spray painted my arm with Chrome Aluminum spray paint. It came out better than I expected.

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Once all was good and dry I cut out a a star template, taped said template to arm and used painters tape to mark the shape out.

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Then I did what normally takes place after preparing to paint, I painted. I used Behr’s Flirt Alert color because it’s a bold red against the shiny metallic Chrome Aluminum spray print I used on the arm.

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This is just after painting. It dried pretty well, I don’t think I need a second coat, however, despite my best efforts to keep the lines straight, the painters tape didn’t stick well to the arm and there was some smudging on the edges. I may draw a thin black line around the star to keep it looking polished, but I’ll need another eye on that.

It is looking really great now that it’s painted and almost complete. Comic Con here I come!!!

Comic Con Coming Up!

I am going to New York Comic Con! I haven’t been since 2011 so I am SUPER EXCITED!

My favorite superhero movie is Captain America: The Winter Soldier, partly because I love Ed Brubaker’s comic that started it and also Sebastian Stan’s portrayal of the Winter Soldier.

So, I have been working on my costume, known in the nerd world as cosplay, of the Winter Soldier. I have a few steps left with making the arm, which is essentially the most difficult part of the costume. The rest of the costume is pretty much black clothes with some gadgets and gizmos. I’m also dressing as a female version of The Winter Soldier.

Here are some progression shots and my explanation of what’s going on:

1st Part: After wrapped my left arm in Saran wrap and then masking tape, we cut it off my arm. Here I am stuffing the makeshift cast of the arm with plastic bags so it will retain its shape during the process.

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2nd Part: This is it closed back up. My biggest regret is not smoothing down the masking tape edges, it became such a headache later on.

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Step 4:  Here’s another picture of the application of the wood glue. This time I mixed the wood glue with water putty to have some flexibility in the material. After many coats and letting it drive I sanded it for days.

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Step 5: This is the arm covered in worbla, a thermoplastic material. It’s hard when room temperature but once heated it becomes quite malleable. You can also see that I split the arm in two so I have bend my arm.

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Not pictures, but will be in my part two of this post is cutting the back open again and affixing elastic to it so it doesn’t slide on my arm and stays fitted. I’m looking to spray paint it next and added details.

Lovin’ Love

My brother proposed to his girlfriend last night, and guess what… THEY ARE ENGAGED!!

 

I could not be more happier for the two! His fiancé is so wonderful and they take great care of each other.

Just wanted to write a quick note about it because I am so excited.

Congratulations you two!! Love you both!

AUTUMN!

We are now entering arguably the best season of the year – autumn. And to celebrate the season of never-ending pumpkin spice and TV show premieres, how about a little a poem to warm up to the cozy chilly winds coming our way? Here is an excerpt from a poem called September Midnight by Sara Teasdale:

 

Over my soul murmur your mute benediction,
While I gaze, O fields that rest after harvest,
As those who part look long in the eyes they lean to,
Lest they forget them.

September Midnight by Sara Teasdale

As aforementioned it is also television premiere season! One of my favorite shows is returning for its second season. Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. premieres on the 23rd. The first season started off slow but it skyrocketed to the amazing stratosphere after covering the Marvel Cinematic Events that took place in Captain America: The Winter Soldier.

Doctor Who also just started back up with the new season and Peter Capaldi taking over the mantle. I like him so far, but I still mourn Matt Smith in the role. Guess it’s like putting on a new pair of shoes, uncomfortable at first but you like them so you keep wearing them until they’re a perfect fit.

I miss writing about entertainment and movies and music so I want to start doing that again. Dust off the old keys and fine tune my craft.

NaNoWriMo also takes places in the fall, if you remember all my posts from last November pretty much correlated with that. I’m planning on doing it again, but I may just work on finishing the book I started last year and also start the graphic novel I’ve been tinkering around with.

Break the Silence

I am coming out of my woodwork to discuss the recent death of my favorite actor/comedian Mr. Robin Williams. There has been much to say about the exemplary life this man has lead, filling so many of us with happiness and also moving us with his dramatic roles as well.

His death, and the alleged circumstances surrounding the tragedy are thought to be from suicide. Suicide remains a taboo subject even in our modern world.  Those suffering from mental illnesses are often misunderstood by those who have been mislead about what mental illnesses are. People suffering from mental illness should not be treated as ‘freaks’ or ‘psychos,’ but instead given the time to know that they are loved and cared about. After all we all know someone who is suffering from a mental illness or has compromised mental health. We know soldiers, all too often who come home from deployment with PTSD and other difficulties deriving from their time in war. We know friends and family, who may seem to smile the brightest every day but battle their fight in silence.

Mental illness needs to be an open topic because it has claimed too many lives and it will continue to consume the minds and hearts of those involved.

In college I was very active with the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention and its campus affiliate Bring Suicide Out of the Darkness. Our group worked hard putting together programs and informational brochures about suicide. Suicide is the second leading cause of death for college students, behind car crashes. I can tell you our programs yielded success, but it was not enough. For as much awareness we raised I felt that we didn’t enact change to the stigma shrouding mental illnesses.

First and foremost, I urge any of you who may be reading this to seek help if you or someone you know may be suffering from mental illness to reach out. The National Suicide Prevention Hotline is 1-800-273-8255.

Next, to everyone, I implore you to get involved in your community and learn how just by understanding these illnesses can be a step in saving lives. We lose too many loved ones, too many talented souls and beautiful people to these illnesses. Fight the negative stigmas around mental illness. Don’t let them claim someone you love or yourself.

In conclusion, Rest in Peace Mr. Williams and all those like you who fought one of the toughest battles of life. We miss you.

 

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Chapter X

As you can see I have been quiet on here the past couple of weeks. There just doesn’t seem much to discuss.

But something did come up.

I started a new job in NYC yesterday. I really like it, and it was so unexpected. My office is right by Bryant Park so it is nice to eat lunch there. Today they had Broadway shows in the park, and I chowed down on my Nutella sandwich while listening to some very talented performers belt out tunes from Les Miserables, Chicago, Atomic, and Pippin. Les Miserables is one of my favorite shows and it was such a nice midday treat.

I am struggling with the commute. It is expensive for me. This weekend I will set aside some time to plan out a better budget than I have now.

Either way it is nice to be a part of the rhythm of New York City.