Below are the 20 most recent journal entries recorded in media_junkie's LiveJournal:

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Sunday, May 27th, 2012
9:19 pm	Closing in on ready Made enough progress the last 2 days that we took a few hours to see MIB III this afternoon. It was really good! Josh Brolin does a mean K - totally believable. Sang a tough song at church today including a little bit of a solo. Sure glad that's over. More prep work tomorrow, but I'm really psyched about Origins. I get to be a pirate at the Smithies! Books: The Persuader Movies: MIB III Soundtrack: Soundtrack to Indiana Jones III Current Mood: excited (Comment on this)
Saturday, May 26th, 2012
4:31 pm	And she punts You know when you write down everything you need to do before Origins - and finish hyperventilating - some hard decisions have to be made. So I had to let go of the idea of attending Balticon - even for the one day I had planned. I hope that most of the people I was looking forward to seeing will be at Origins. Another death - this time starfyre's dad. I'm losing track of how many since September. Too many. In fact I had a hard time picking up the phone to wish my old officemate a happy birthday because I was terrified his wife might answer and say he had died too. He is 77 after all. It was such a relief to hear his voice and know he was OK. And now, back to the to do list. Books: The Last Dragonslayer/The Persuader Movies: Oh yeah, sure, I've got time for that Soundtrack: It's a losing race when you're racing with the clock Current Mood: anxious (2 Comments |Comment on this)
Friday, May 18th, 2012
2:38 pm	The Hubby Does Good The hubby pampered me quite well on my birthday. Flowers, chocolate, that cute little purse I admired last week, dinner outside, a trip to Barnes and Nobel to blow the gift card a friend gave me, and a leisurely walk. He gets an A+. Thanks to everyone who called/emailed/sent cards to wish me a happy day. Dad forgot - but that's the way he is. Work is building up to my big test day. As usual people are not following directions but I have a surplus of testers in case some can't get into the building or their accounts. This is my third time at the rodeo so I've learned a thing or two. Books: The Last Dragonslayer/Catching Fire Movies: nope Soundtrack: Thankful (Josh Groban's song, choir arrangement) Current Mood: happy (1 Comment |Comment on this)
Sunday, May 13th, 2012
8:36 pm	The Good, the Bad, the Sad, and the Disturbing Good - The Avengers - make that great. Really enjoyed it. Also the music at coffee house on Friday. And the wine at Hartwood today. Bad - The ridiculous round and round of trying to transfer my mother's IRA into my name. I finally had to call pompous bureaucrat from NY and force her to speak to pompous bureaucrat from VA on my cell. Still not sure it worked. Sad - A week of advertising bombardment about Mother's day culminated in a Mother's Day service at church. No wonder I spent all afternoon at a winery. Disturbing - Friday a well dressed teenager riding a quality bike stopped us and asked us for 50 cents so he could buy a soda. We didn't know him, but he felt no shame whatsoever in asking strangers for money so he could buy something he didn't absolutely need like a soda. When did kids become THAT entitled? Good grief! Books: Catching Fire Movies: The Avengers - see it! Soundtrack: We're on a road to nowhere Current Mood: sad (5 Comments |Comment on this)
Monday, May 7th, 2012
8:29 pm	30% off day rules! I'm a buying fiend! It will take me a whole month of energy to finish growing what I planted today. Also the Striiv people called me today for an intense one on one interview about what I like and don't like about Striiv and what I think would make my friends and family buy one. An interesting idea they are kicking around is letting current Stiiv users recommend people for a free 2 week no money obligation trial of the device. After 2 weeks you could send it back for free if you didn't want it. I thought that would be a great idea and encouraged them to do it. Then I pointed them at justhuman who also wanted her say. On the B&C front the Washington Post magazine yesterday had an article about Mysticon that featured a picture of people playing Showbiz Shuffle! The caption even said that was what they were doing. I am thrilled - and collecting copies if you happen to be done with your magazine and haven't chucked it yet. Work was super colossal annoying today. Major suckage. Guess you can't have everything. Books: Last and First Encounters/The Last Dragonslayer Movies: saw some Mythbusters last night Soundtrack: The snicker snack of epees in the garage Current Mood: excited (4 Comments |Comment on this)
Thursday, May 3rd, 2012
10:17 pm	Baby baby baby - I've got me Turtle Island! So now of course I'm broke. I have over 200k of energy and less than 1k in money. Of course in the morning things will be different. Books: The Last Dragonfighter Movies: nope Soundtrack: Pina Colada Song - I hear it playing in the garage Current Mood: ecstatic (7 Comments |Comment on this)
Monday, April 30th, 2012
5:52 pm	justhuman gets her wish After the great Fairy Tree marathon I decided to go easy on the builds today. I took the 3 bird of paradise challenge for the parrot, then built some cheap stuff to make it to 75 fixtures for the 150k coin reward. When I built a warrior poet another centaur showed up - but this one was blond and built heavier like a draft horse. When I clicked on her she shot an arrow! And she was even standing by the archery field when she did it. Books: Undead and Unemployed Movies: no, and no one will go to the Raven with me :( Soundtrack: Cheeseburger in Paradise Current Mood: energetic (2 Comments |Comment on this)
Sunday, April 29th, 2012
2:05 pm	I can haz faireez too! After a lot of concerted effort I finished growing my Fairy Tree today and sure enough a fairy appeared on my little virtual island! She has beautiful butterfly wings, pink hair, and delicate antennae. When I click on her she flutters her wings and lifts a little off the ground. I am enchanted with her. I continue saving my money for a second island. Once I earn up some more energy (she really depleted my stores) I will plant some small simple things going after 50 features on the island, and maybe the next tier of X animals on island. The hubby is much amused at my squeeing over the fairy. I want to see The Raven but hubby isn't up for it. Will look for like-minded individuals to go with. Anyone free Tuesday night? - MJ Books: Undead and Unemployed Movies: nope Soundtrack: There's a fairy in my garden Current Mood: ecstatic (Comment on this)
Thursday, April 26th, 2012
10:02 pm	Stiiv People Respond to my Bitchy Email I sent the Striiv people a flaming email last night about their sudden changing of the game rules. Much to my surprise I received a personalized response. They apologised and said they were going to try not to affect quests and builds in process next time they upgrade. They offered me some free accessories to try to make up. I appreciate the effort to make me happier. They've added mystery chests as prizes for certain behaviors like syncing. The last one I got was 5 hours of quadrupled money for all harvesting. I was able to cash in X4 for a grandfather tree, both fountains of youth, and one Parthenon on top of all my regular plants and buildings that pay off regularly. It was totally sweet. I am now over 1M coins, and since it will take me 4 more days of walking to finish the Fairy Tree now, I might have enough saved up for Turtle Island by the end. Here's hoping - MJ Books: Chindi - only a few pages left Movies: nope - but I've got Top Gear on the telly Soundtrack: engines revving Current Mood: okay (Comment on this)
Wednesday, April 25th, 2012
7:47 pm	The Evil Striiv People Have Raised the Cost of Everything! I don't mean the device costs more - I mean all the plants and buildings cost more money and energy to build now. When I synced the device this evening they rewrote the island software on me. BAD Striiv people. I only have one stage left to grow my fairy tree. Good thing I planted it before the prices went up. That used to be the most expensive thing you could plant but there are new things to buy now so I guess the download wasn't all bad since some of them look way cool. Books: Chindi - funny how long it takes me to read a book now that I spend all my time walking Movies: uh uh Soundtrack: Cause you left me just when I needed you most Current Mood: annoyed (1 Comment |Comment on this)
Monday, April 23rd, 2012
5:09 pm	Yes, the Striiv Rules my Life It is raining for the second day in a row here. Yesterday I drove to a mall so I could walk out my challenges. Just now I ran up and down my stairs over and over until I got enough energy points to finish my quest. Now I have a cute little brown dragon flying over my island. His behavior pattern is no different from the parrots which is a little disappointing, but as I keep telling the hubby none of it matters as long as I continue to move around. My body is continuing it's reconfiguration which means I'm not losing mass, but I am converting fat into muscle. My clothes are fitting differently and suddenly I'm only sleeping around 5 hours a night and being wide awake at ridiculously early hours. I am not wearing as many layers in the meat locker at work to stay warm. Amazing stuff. I still need to head over to the gym to see if the Striiv works on a treadmill. That would be a lot more convenient than hauling out to the mall and less wretched than doing lots of stair challenges. Books: Chindi (almost finished) Movies: none Soundtrack: Reason alone can not explain how the heart behaves Current Mood: satisfied (1 Comment |Comment on this)
Saturday, April 21st, 2012
11:55 am	One Grandfather Tree Down, One to Go As I further obsess over my little game I decided to take the 2 Grandfather Tree quest. The cost a ton of money AND heaps of walking points, but they pay off big when they start to yield coins so I thought I'd go for it. When I accepted the challenge it said my reward would be a DRAGON to walk around my island. I was so excited I started walking a whole bunch. Well I just finished off my first tree and it came with a surprise bonus - a pink lemur. I will be able to afford to plant my second tree sometime late today, and then it will probably take 2 or 3 days to grow it until my dragon shows, but I am still completely psyched. But now, I must go to book club. Book: Chindi Movies: too busy walking Soundtrack: Step by step, rung by rung, higher and higher Current Mood: excited (Comment on this)
Tuesday, April 17th, 2012
6:12 pm	Highlands Ho! This afternoon I had saved enough money to buy my Parthenon and by then I even had the energy to build it! Now that I've unlocked the highlands I've decided the highlands are going to have the Parthenons and the Maiden's Tower and will be set up as a kind of Olympus once I save up for more Greek architecture. The original area will be a village with all the huts and little plants. The lowlands will be a sculpture garden. I'm so psyched! Books: Chindi Movies: none Soundtrack: Oh Danny Boy Current Mood: excited (4 Comments |Comment on this)
Monday, April 16th, 2012
8:11 pm	Notes to Self + Ravencon 1] Do not accept hard stair challenges late at night. 2] Do not accept hard timed challenges in 85 degree heat. I've built one Parthenon and almost have enough money saved to start the next. On Saturday due to being at a con I walked over 20k steps. Now my average is too high to beat! Obsess obsess obsess... Ravencon was an odd mix of ups and downs. Drive down smooth - up. Guest Registration says they have no record of me as a guest despite having my name in the program book, on their website and on the back of their shirts - down. 2 fun panels Friday night - up. 3 demo sessions with no players at all - down. Fabu full up playtest of WWWD? went swimmingly - up. Got stuck in elevator - down. Walk up 8 flights of stairs to get to a party because you don't trust the elevator anymore - down. Rob Balder's mixed drinks at party - up. Surprise sale to a retailer with 2 stores in southern VA - UP! As always it was good to commune with fandom. Score more Glen Cook autographs and a new (to me) book of his plus a copy of Dear C'thulu - advice column of the elder gods. I'm planning on returning next year. Also starting to look forward to Origins (hint hint justhuman). Imagine how many steps I'll take in Columbus for a whole week! Obsess obsess obsess... Books: Chindi Movies: none Soundtrack: Jonah Knight singing about zombies (3 Comments |Comment on this)
Friday, April 13th, 2012
8:28 am	Metabolism Shifting Gears No one on my flist remembers me from junior high so they will never have seen this happen before - but my metabolism seems to be shifting gears again. When I was in junior high I looked pretty much as I do today - just one size smaller. Then I went to band camp and marched 6 hours a day for 2 weeks in the blazing August sun. I walked into high school 4 sizes smaller than I'd been before camp. I was actually afraid I'd gotten some sort of wasting disease, but I stabilized and maintained that weight all through high school. Now I have owned my Striiv for a few hours less than one week. Last night it told me I'd walked a marathon this week. I have lost 2 pounds already without changing my eating habits. I now feel restless if I sit for more than a few minutes at atime so I anticipate I'll be doing even more walking. I have even taken to jogging for very brief stints during my walks. Nothing short of the 6 hour a day punishment of band camp is going to pull off the 4 size miracle in 2 weeks, but I think I can pull it off this year for certain if I can just keep it up. The game is addictive, but I'm worried about slacking off when it becomes oppressively hot out which is a regional certainty. Now - I've got to get up and move again. - MJ Books: Chindi Movies: hah - as if I could hold still that long Soundtrack: Runnin' on Ice Current Mood: energetic (4 Comments |Comment on this)
Wednesday, April 11th, 2012
9:23 pm	I can haz white tiger! Still obsessing on my Striiv. Boy are my legs sore! Which is the point really, rather than the trees and ostriches etc. Books: Chindi Movies: nope Soundtrack: Eye of the Tiger Current Mood: sore (Comment on this)
Tuesday, April 10th, 2012
8:39 pm	Obsessed with my Striiv I can't believe how addictive this thing is! I'm constantly checking it and I am walking more every day. Today the thing convinced me to climb 8 flights of stairs and even run a little bit - and I HATE running. I have opened up my lowlands and discovered that justhuman and I must have very different strategies because I had way more energy than gold so I did a swap to get my second fountain and still had plenty left over. Now my animals have room to run around in and I've been able to move the big things to the lower plain. Hubby was jealous of the thing and how much time I spent on it until he started to feel muscle changes that he - ahem - approves of. He started his new job yesterday and the commute is around an hour each way, but he likes the people and the work so it looks like it will work out. Dad called yesterday and talked about his house hunting expedition. Still having trouble coming to grips with him moving to the Rockies. He's happy though, so good on him. Books: Chindi Movies: mainlined some Robot Chicken on demand Soundtrack: Ch-ch-ch-ch-Changes Current Mood: energetic (2 Comments |Comment on this)
Saturday, April 7th, 2012
4:28 pm	You had me at Centaur Once justhuman reported Centaurs on her Striiv island I had to have one. It arrived yesterday and I couldn't wait to run out the door and start racking up points. It's taken me a while to figure out which quests to do in which order, but I think I've got it now. I'm still trying to figure out if cashing in energy for gold is a smart thing to do. I find the thing completely addictive. For those of you going "huh?" Striiv is an electronic pedometer that gives you points for each step taken which you can use to play their adorable make your island beautiful game. They also donate money to your choice (from a limited menu) of charity for your steps. Sometimes it will prompt you to do more in exchange for bonus points and it totally works. I've grabbed my keys and headed out to walk around the block twice already, plus paced the ground floor when it offered me a bonus for just 3 minutes of activity. If you're having trouble getting your butt in gear I highly recommend it. On an unrelated note - a message to men everywhere. You are an ADULT for crying out loud. I think you can, and should, handle emptying your pockets before throwing your clothes in the laundry. You are ALL on notice. Books: The Hunger Games/Chindi Movies: Good Night and Good Luck Soundtrack: Birds chirping on my adorable little virtual island! Current Mood: excited (10 Comments |Comment on this)
Sunday, April 1st, 2012
5:02 pm	Carpet of Blue sharainchains ran a group of us through a hike of the bluebell fields in Bull Run Park. Spectacular! Thanks for organizing it! We also were at Area 42 together on Friday where more good WWWD playtesting took place. I really think that will gel into a good game soon. Today had lunch with Dad. Now, it's chore time :-( Books: Treachery in Death Movies: The beginning of the Brain from Outerspace, then I fell asleep Soundtrack: May nothing evil cross this door Current Mood: busy (Comment on this)
Saturday, March 24th, 2012
9:05 pm	Super Amazing Trip Thursday - drive to Jersey and have fabu Thai food w/justhuman and her mom. Friday - Wow the kids and teachers at Critical Thinking day. 90 kids all playing X-Machina and having a ball. 9 NJ school districts now own their own copy. I'm hoping it will spread. Friday night - excellent sushi and The Hunger Games. Totally see why Mindy so into it now. Saturday - a pilgrimage to Broadway to see Priscilla, Queen of the Desert. A really good musical with lots of laughs and amazing costumes. WARNING - if you are buying tickets the rear orchestra is not the way to go. Almost half the action happens above the bus and you can't see it from where our seats were - major rip off. On the other hand we were lucky (?) enough to be seated in the middle of 10 drunk birthday women who talked and got up and down all through the first act. The usher took pity on us and moved us all the way to the front row on the far right. That made things SO much better. Tomorrow I will drive home to hubby. I couldn't ask for a better weekend. Thanks to justhuman and her mom for humoring me and being great hosts - MJ Books: Critical Mass Movies: The Hunger Games/Priscilla Queen of the Desert Soundtrack: It's rainin' men Current Mood: bouncy (1 Comment |Comment on this)