Brand New Day…

There is a song in Dr. Horrible’s Sing-Along Blog called “Brand New Day”. I love that song. If you listen to the words, the hero… ummm, villain…; okay Dr Horrible, makes his commitment to the Dark Side ((to borrow a Star Wars term)) and begins singing the song with great resolve. When Billy ((Dr. Horrible’s version of Clark Kent)) gets to the chorus he sings: It’s a brand new day and the sun is high All the birds are singing that you’re gonna die How I hesitated now I wonder why It’s a brand new day   I kinda leave out the gonna die part though. I’ll often be found singing it often at the beginning of many of my days and starting my good morning tweets with the phrase, “It’s a Brand New Day!” Today is a brand new day for me. I had a huge disappointment yesterday, but today I chose to keep on track with my life. I refused to let depression set in. It’s strange, a few short months ago I could feel the depression sitting there, waiting for me to embrace it, but it isn’t there this time. I cried a bit yesterday, howeverI think the crying was cathartic; cleansing; a time of mourning. But today is… A Brand New Day! I’m in a great mood; I have a smile on my face. I’m accomplishing things. Yes it is… A BRAND NEW DAY!!!! ((List of victories are on Something Different))

LISTS!!!

I went back to college at 40; the class I dreaded the most was English Composition. I discovered I am a very good writer. At one point, my teacher said I was so good at writing because I wrote about what I knew. I do write on things I’m passionate about, or tend to have a strong opinion.

I am working to be a better writer and I want to share what I write with others. My current project is working with problogger.net on their 31 Days to Build a Better Blog. You all get to … ummm, reap the benefits… or suffer the torture… you choose, of what I experiment with for the next 30 days. Yesterday was day one, I haven’t shared that with you yet!

We are being challenged to write a list. I love lists! I try to put most of my work emails and reports and others things into lists so people can read the majority of the content easily. To this end, I’m going to create a list of the things I’m currently passionate about! *wicked grins* although you could just look at my blog cloud to see the same thing.

Ready? Set? GO!

·         MMO’s – Massive Multiplayer Online game. Often it’s MMORPG, with the RPG meaning roleplaying game. I love these games. Why? Not so much for the game, but for the Multiplayer part. I LOVE PEOPLE! I’m a social person. I’ve always enjoyed playing games on computer, but add in the social aspect and I’m totally hooked. Not addictively anymore, but it’s so amazing to see people come together to achieve common goals. I build teams and the principles for real life team building absolutely applies here in MMO’s.

o   Star Wars Galaxies (past favorite)

o   Star Trek Online (looking to a near future)

o   World of Warcraft (current)

·         Family – I’m 50 now. I am not oriented on raising my boys any longer, but I am interested in their lives and watching them mature, grow, and supporting them (hopefully not financially) to become the amazing young men I know they can be.

o   Hagardly (writes music and is starting a comic series based on MMOs)

o   Da (pronounced Day. He’s a fiction writer who is incredibly intrigued with the psychology of relationships)

o   Mike (In the Army, and has a true artist’s heart. He plays instruments by ear and wants desperately to be an actor)

o   Mom (terrifically smart woman)

o   Extended (so many, and I love them all, even when they make me crazy)

·         Role Playing – This is the area that I get to still make-believe in. I get to be someone I’d not, but it’s not crazy, it’s accepted and enjoyed by me and others. Star Wars is usually my chosen universe for RP, but I’ve dabbled in Star Trek and it has a tremendous appeal for me.

·         Writing – I’m exploring my new found love of writing. I’ve written short fiction stories that have won an award. I’ve writing dozens of boring technical manuals, but now… I want to explore reaching out to others.

o   Twitter (fast, furious, fun).

o   Blogging (therapeutic)

·         Something Different – The clickable tab at the top of the page. This is my current passion right now.

·         Internet and/or Celebrities – I’ve always been a little fascinated with the entertainment world, from the days of my youth.

o   Felicia Day – She is an incredible young woman. I enjoy following her career because she’s utilized the current technology to make her dreams happen. She’s worked hard and is probably the biggest celebrity on the Internet and will be in other media soon as well if things keep going as they are. She’s a writer, actress, singer, director. Those are things I always wanted to do, and so I feel a certain kinship with her. I’m twice her age, but she’s a role model. She is a gamer girl who is loved and adored by so many people.

I’ve spent time explaining my fascination for her here, because many of the people my age have been asking why I’m so intrigued. This is why: She’s an Awesome Geek Chic!

o   Dr Horrible’s Sing-along Blog – Jos Whedon – what an amazing talent. Firefly, Dollhouse. My boys and I all have the DVD’s for Dr. Horrible. If you haven’t seen it, just stop what you are doing, and go watch it now! It’s on the Internet. DO IT! DO IT NOW!

 

… and that concludes today’s list of Zannniee’s Interests!

 

It’s a Brand New Day…

Yesterday was a great day. It’s been awhile since I’ve had a great day. My blog post was well received and that was heartwarming. I solved some problems at work that have gotten pushed to the wayside and that was rewarding. But I think what touched my heart the most and humbled me was an event that took someone else just a few minutes.

Those of you who read my blog and follow me on Twitter, know I’m a huge Felicia Day fan. I am fascinated with what she’s done and her entrepreneurial spirit.

((If you haven’t watched The Guild or Dr Horrible’s Sing-along blog, it’s time. Stop reading my blog and go do it now!))

 I watch the shows she’s in, find the Sears’ commercial I’d heard about, read and watch her interviews, but it’s more than that. She had a dream and wasn’t willing to let it go. She persevered and started reaching her goals. She thought outside the box and started to soar. She is an inspiration and role model to all of us.

I’m 50. I’m smart. I have a great personality. I’ve never really let myself soar.

Yesterday, I sent a message to my role model… Does it seem odd to anyone that my role model is probably more than half my age? It doesn’t to me, not when this role model is on the Internet. The Internet blurs so many things like age, race, and distance. It’s about the person and who they are. It brings people closer. So, I sent an @reply to her, letting her know I mentioned her in my blog. Sure, other posts have gushed about her much more than this one. Sure, she’s got over 227,000 followers who must send her a bazillion messages, but I did it anyway. I did it for me.

Later in the evening, no one in the house, no one online that I normally hang out with, I received an email saying I had a Direct Message… from Felicia Day.

That amazing young woman, took a few minutes of her precious time to read my blog and respond. Not just with a “thank you for mentioning me.” But with a quick, insightful few lines that let me know she’s just as incredible as I’ve perceived her to be.

So, from one Geek Chic to another, have a delightful time in your endeavors and don’t stop taking a few minutes to touch others lives.

 

Okay, time for me to go soaring now!

XOXO

Zannniee

Choices…

I'm in good company!

I’m 50!

I know that isn’t earth shattering to any of you. Still, I’m 50. I went into a funk about it months before the actual date. I did NOT want to be 50. Guess what? I didn’t have a choice.

Actually, I have many choices. I can choose what to do with the rest of my life. I decided the main choice is this:

“Start my life now, or die.”

I’m starting my life now! I feel a new motivation. A new energy. A new excitement.

I started a diet almost two weeks ago. However, for the FIRST time, it’s more of a lifestyle change than a diet. The real test came today. I actually chose to pass up Rice Krispie treats. I LOVE those, but today it wasn’t worth it.

So, now it’s time to decide who I am and what motivates me. I am not the fat woman whom people enjoy talking to and laughing with. I’m the woman who is going to be thinner and healthier, whom people enjoy talking to and laughing with.

I’m still a gamer mom. I still enjoy Dr Horrible. I’m still a HUGE Felicia Day fan.

I Tweet, I blog, I play WoW. I’m a Star Trek fan, even more than Star Wars. I roleplay, I write fiction.

I’m a geek. I enjoy the challenges of SharePoint. I like troubleshooting and giving the solutions to someone else to manage.

I love to read, I like puzzles and solving mysteries.

I am the mother to 3 amazing boys.

I think there is more to me than even these things. My life is my own. I have choices.

I’m 50!

 

((I’m pretty sure I need a 50th Anniversary Barbie now…))

A Quick Note…

Halyn still hasn’t watched Dr. Horrible’s Sing-Along Blog!

I’m trying to play Morrowind and keep thinking it should be an MMO. For those of you who play Oblivion, you know what I mean.

I’m actually PvPing, kinda. On a spreadsheet mmo game called AstroEmpires.

I’m considering going back to WoW for awhile, if I can find the money for the subscription (danged school loans)

I’m loving my little Star Trek RP group. I’m a El-Arian Counselor on an Excelsior class starship (*giggles* is that nerdy enough for you?)

… and I have to remember to get Shadowcall’s DVD’s in the mail to Netflix tomorrow….

Sometimes you wonder…

… if anyone cares or listens.

I have this new blogging venture. I have many friends. I have bunches of things to say. I think all my friends should be reading what I have to say! I think they should also be making comments as well! *grins and giggles*

I know they care. It’s sometimes when things seem to pile on that you feel most alone. However, in this blog, I’m sharing some of myself. I’m sharing things I feel others will enjoy and that will lift their spirits as these have lifted mine with laughter.

I have a great friend in North Dakota. I’ve been pushing him to both read my blog AND to watch Dr. Horrible’s Sing Along Blog. He promised me he would do it. I told him I was also going to blog about him not doing this sooner!

He’s only forgiven for not doing it sooner because he lost all his favorites recently. So, Halyn, you are forgiven. But you will only fully redeem yourself after you watch Dr Horrible’s Sing Along Blog!

*grins* Otherwise some of my other friends will be finding lab coats and freeze rays…

Nerds are cool…

There was a song a number of years back, I was Country when Country Wasn’t Cool. I’m fairly certain it was sung by Barbara Mandrell. At first I was thinking Marie Osmond, but she did “I’m a little bit county…” or something like that.

…but back to nerds. I’m thinking nerds are starting to be the cool thing! There are two outstanding pieces of evidence for this.

First, Dr. Horrible’s Sing-along-Blog. If you haven’t seen this musical web series, you have to drop what you are doing and watch it now! The two male leads are gorgeous, Neil Patrick Harris and Nathan Fillion. I fell for Nathan Fillion as Malcom Reynolds in the Firefly series (yet another MUST SEE series for everyone!) But I think it is Felicia Day that captures everyone’s heart in this webisode.

In one scene, Captain Hammer (played by Fillion) sings about how his girlfriend is hot in a nerdy sort of way. (need to go see it for about the 20th time to get the quote right!) Felicia Day is amazing, and is my personal hero. I want to be like her when I grow up!

The second huge piece of evidence for nerds being cool is the television series, The Big Bang Theory. This show is hilarious. Shadowcall is heading to New York for a few days (I am so jealous!) and he’s letting me watching the series he rented from Netflix, so long as I get them in the mail in time to get his next choices back. (note to self, check out Netflix)

… ANYWAY, I was laughing so hard, my youngest son Day comes to see what’s going on, recognizes the show, heads downstairs to make popcorn. By the time he’s back, his brother Hagardly has come to investigate the hilarity and has plopped down on my bed to watch too.

Talk about quality family time! You MUST watch this show!

So, if my premise is correct… “I was Nerdy, when being a Nerd wasn’t cool!“