Ch-ch-ch-changes

As I sit here awaiting the end of another year, I started thinking about changes I wanted to make to the blog. I know it's rather soon, but it's nothing major, and more of a change in philosophy than content. For one, I've done away with Adsense. I have nothing against it, but it seems kind of pointless for a blog with the number of readers that I have. Speaking of my readers, I've also done away with Analytics. No longer will I concern myself with how many views I get. I'm just going to focus on providing entertainment for myself and those of you that follow me. I'm not promising I'll always be entertaining, but I'll certainly do my best.

On that note, I took this photo a couple weeks before Christmas, and I think I completely forgot to post it.

Back before Christmas, Bob decided to get into the holiday spirit. I think I might  see if I can find him a proper hat for next year.

Until next time, Happy New Years everybody. I hope it's a safe and fun one for all my Zombiteers!.

Fun Food Friday- Holiday Treats Extravaganza!

I've been slack in maintaining the weekly nature of my weekly feature, and for that I beg forgiveness. I'm going to do my best to make it up to you today. Let's get this show on the road.

Cherry Cordial Creme Hershey's Kisses

I'm really not a fan of cherry cordials. The chocolate always seems a little bland compared to the cherry filling, which is usually so sweet it makes my jaw ache. Most include a cherry in the middle, and though I enjoy cherries on their own, they're just overwhelmed by the sickeningly sweet syrup. In the end, it's a candy that just doesn't work for me, and I always avoided them.

Then my girlfriend pointed these out to me, and I decided I at least had to give them a shot. Thankfully, they fix all the issues I have with the regular cordials. I much prefer the cordial creme to a cherry and diabetes syrup. The Hershey's chocolate gets nice and melty rather quickly, and doesn't suffer from the waxiness of most cordial candies. Another bonus, no soggy fruit in the middle of the candy, just smooth, luxurious creme.

Cherry Cordial M&M's

Yes, another cherry flavored candy. This time it's M&M's taking on the flavor. I have to admit, I was a little skeptical at first, but going by how quickly the first bag disappeared, I must like them. Much like the Hershey's, the M&M's manage to replicate the cherry cordial flavor without the nasty syrup or soggy cherry.  I thought it was rather nifty that they are all maroon or red, because, that's what color cherries are. I've always said the best flavor was always red, and it looks like I've been proven right this time. Speaking of my favorite flavor..

Starburst Favereds

That's right, red is my favorite flavor, and it looks like someone at Starburst felt the same way. I don't really have much to say about the flavors, other than fruit punch is the only one that actually tastes like its name. The rest are all varying levels of red-ness, in color and flavor. About the only complaint I can lodge against Starbursts are that until it gets warm and soft, it feels like I'm going to lose a tooth while I'm chewing them.

Keeble Jumbo Mint Fudge Sticks

This was a new one for me, but according to my girlfriend, these things have been around for a while. Any company that puts out snacks in holiday themed packaging is going to instantly catch my eye, even if I'm not very fond of what they're peddling. As far as Fudge Sticks go, I enjoy the regular version, but I hadn't tried these. For a while, I was against anything that combined chocolate and mint, except York Peppermint Patties of course. I'm slowly coming around though, and I think one day I may be able to bring myself to try mint chocolate chip ice cream again. These guys kind of remind me of  larger, crispier Ande's mints. There's a nice balance between the fudge and the mint,  and neither one overpowers the other. I'm happy I gave them a shot, it's just unfortunate that they seem to be yet another seasonal food that I'd love to eat all year.

So that about wraps it up for this time. Next week's food is going to require an extra set of hands, and should be a lot of fun, so keep your eyes on this page. Until then, have a happy and safe New Years!

2012 Christmas Booty

It's hard to believe, but Christmas is finally over. Since the holidays seem to start as soon as Halloween ends, it's almost a shock when they're over. We're bombarded by Christmas commercials, Christmas specials, and decorations for nearly three months. Then, it just ends. I'm sure it's just because I'm (arguably) all grown up now, and don't have another week of vacation left after Christmas Day. It kind of puts a damper on things when you know you have to travel several hundred miles or go to work the next day. But, none of that negative, down in the dumps stuff today. Today is all about show and tell. Here's the booty that I was lucky enough to find waiting for me under our tree this year.

Tons of books!

If you can't already tell, I love to read. I tend to be random in my interests, but as you can tell, I enjoy movie trivia, facts about everyday things, and horror stories. I'm particularly excited about Extraordinary Origins of Everyday Things and Seeing Further: The Story of Science, Discovery, and the Genius of the Royal Society by Bill Bryson. I've been a Bryson fan since I discovered him in college, so I'm sure I'll enjoy this book as well.

Axe Holiday Pack

Not only does my girlfriend like a strong, handsome man, she also likes one that smells good too. Plus, it has a Spartan from Halo on the box. I feel more manly already.

Legos!

Lego Star Wars: The Essential Minifigure Book Collection includes a Star Wars minifigure encyclopedia, and two different sticker books, because who doesn't like stickers. They also included a small Tie Fighter model. The one there in front is my first Lord of the Rings set, Gandalf Arrives. I never would have considered Lego and LOTR to be a good match, but it appears I was wrong. I still need to put both of those together actually..

New Balance Sneakers

I'm hard on my shoes, but every pair of New Balance that I've had has lasted me a minimum of two years. Other brands usually fall apart on me after 6 months or so. They also fit my feet better than shoes from other companies, so I'm sticking with them for now. This pair is supposed to be good for trail running, which means I don't have any excuses not to go jogging with my girlfriend now.

Lots o' candy

We always get a stocking or two full of candy. This year was a light one, if you can believe it. Thank goodness, because I'm trying not to push my metabolism any harder than I have to. There's some good stuff in there, including Reese's cups, Reese's pieces, Butterfinger bells, and a box of Whoppers. There's also a tiny Darth Vader that spits our small sour candies when you push a button in his chest. They must be candy from the Dark Side, because I thought my face was going to turn inside out when I tried it.

Sharp things!

My other hobby involves sharp and pointy objects, though I've slimmed down my knife collection to just what I use these days. The top two are a Buck Vantage, and a Buck Prince. The Vantage will see a lot of use for work, while the Prince will ride in my pocket for everything else. It's a nice little knife, and it's easy to forget it's there sometimes. Plus, it won't freak out those folks that tend to be scared of sharp objects. The Victorinox Mini-champ will replace the Classic that I used to have on my keychain. I love Swiss Army knives, and always have one on me. If all I had received this year was the Mini-champ, I would not have been disappointed.

Starbucks Cold Cup

I've had a larger one of these for sometime now, but it's starting to get a bit worn. I love these cups, if just for the fact it has a screw lid, so it's a bit harder to spill. It also came with some instant coffee and tea packs. Not too shabby.

Inception and The Social Network soundtracks

I enjoyed both of these movies, but I think my favorite part of both were the musical scores. I'm also a big fan of Hans Zimmer and Trent Reznor, so these two will probably be on "Repeat" on my Ipod for a while.

Movies and Video Games!

My Xbox 360 collection has been a bit slim, so it was nice to boost it up a bit. Between these four discs, I received about 30 games, though most of them are on compilations. I also received my first Blu-Ray, The Dark Knight Rises. I guess this means I need to get the rest of the trilogy in Blu-Ray as well. Speaking of, I was given a Panasonic Blu-Ray player, which I was shocked to discover did not include any video hookups of any kind. This isn't the first time I've had this happen, though it doesn't get any less aggravating. If including a $2 wire is going to break your company, you need to step back reexamine how you do things.

Awesome T-shirts!

I love me some Nintendo and some Adventure Time. Nuff said.

Logitech Wireless Trackball M570

I know the majority of people use a mouse, but I prefer the feel and function of a trackball. It's nice not having to worry about clearing stuff off the top of my desk, and it's also funny watching someone try to use it for the first time.

I also received a Spiderman night light in my stocking. Not only does it keep my office from being too dark, it also means Spiderman will always have my back. So there you have it, my Christmas haul for 2012. As usual, it would have been a great year even without the presents. I hope everyone else had a great Christmas, and I look forward to seeing you all in the new year.

Oh, and there will be a Fun Food Friday this week, even if it kills me.

Lego Star Wars Advent Calendar Day 24

This is it, the final day of our advent calendar adventure. It's been quite the journey, and one that I'm in no hurry to repeat. I can definitely use a good 48 hours between posts, if only to get my thoughts together. But, enough of my whining, let's see what we got today.

Well, this one was pretty much spoiled by the box this year. Here we have Darth Maul as Santa Claus, or Santa Maul. Or Darth Claus..whichever you prefer. He comes with a shovel, and what I'm guessing is supposed to be a snowball. I guess it makes sense, since he seems to be building the astromech snowman on the box. I must admit, I'm rather perplexed by Lego's decision to turn the maniacal Darth Maul into an herald of Christmas cheer, but maybe that whole death thing gave him a new outlook on life. I'm just curious what effect he will have on all the other minifigs from the set..

Well would you look at that. For the first time in weeks, everyone seems to be getting along. I guess they heard good boys and girls get presents at Christmas, while bad ones end up with a stocking full of Bantha dung. Even Bob looks anxious to speak to Santa Maul.

What could he be asking for?  I guess we'll find out tomorrow..Until then, Merry Christmas everyone!

Lego Star Wars Advent Calendar Day 23

The end is in sight! Just two more doors, and yet another advent calendar will be completed. I'm at the point now, I can no longer be disappointed in anything that Lego throws at us. I think the past few days have been the low point, so the only way we can go is up. Let's see if I'm right, shall we?

Wow, can I call it or what? Yesterday's prediction was spot on; it's an astromech snowman. I love how the details look a little washed out, like it's actually made out of snow. I'm not sure if you can tell, but those are two lumps of coal for its eyes, and two carrots for its...mouth? Plus, look at that little top hat! This one more than makes up for the last few models. It's almost as if Lego knew the crappy scaled shuttles were going to be a disappointment, and they knew we would need something to bring us out of our funk. Consider this droid to be the spirits to my inner Scrooge.

Oh no! Watch out little droid! It looks like not even you could bring back the holiday spirit in Bob the Zombie! 

Wait, those aren't zombie bites, those are zombie hugs. It's a Christmas miracle! Come back tomorrow when we finally open the last box, and finish up what has been a tumultuous 24 days. 

Lego Star Wars Advent Calendar Day 22

I'm still here, I promise! I'm just recovering from being awake for 40 continuous hours. Nothing like being up for close to two days straight to make you realize that you're not young anymore. Anyhow, I managed to put together another advent calendar post for you all. I'm keeping my fingers crossed yet again. Maybe I'll know what it is.

Son of a...I had to look this one up as well. It's hard to tell, but this is supposed to be Darth Maul's ship, Scimitar. I'll give you a second to go look it up for yourself..Find it? Again, another ship whose proportions do not work well with the mini scale. Of course, this means that we have just two more kits left for this month, and thanks to the box, we already know one of them will be Darth Maul. Scouring the box for clues, I have a feeling one of the last two will be an astromech droid. I could be way off, though.

Darth Maul's ship gives the Imperial forces a 11-9 advantage over the Rebels. I'm not sure where Gonk's allegiance lies, and the last one is just a rack full of weapons, so no advantage there. Bob's been abused by both sides, so he'll likely just stand there and watch whatever happens. Will the spirit of the holidays overwhelm the urge to blow each other up? Stay tuned..

Lego Star Wars Advent Calendar Day 21

As much as I love the Lego Advent Calendars, it's become an exercise in frustration. The past couple of days have seen some rather obscure, and poorly constructed models. We're really getting down to the wire here, with just three short days left before Christmas Eve. Will the these last four models turn things around? I have to admit that I'm not holding my breath.

Ah..today it's a Super Battle Droid. Not completely disappointing, but nothing spectacular either. At least the regular Battle Droid was made up of different color pieces. This one is all the same shade of metallic gray, though I have to admit it is a rather detailed mold. Otherwise, I don't really care for him. Bob, show Mr. Super Battle Droid the way out please.

Actually, I wanted you to usher him to the exit..oh well.

Lego Star Wars Advent Calendar Day 20

Things are starting to wind down a bit now. We're just four more days from finishing out the calendar, though I kind of worry how the last few entries are going to go. I'm not sure what it is about the new prequel vehicles, but they just don't seem to lend themselves to the mini scale. Add to that the fact I've only seen each of them one time, and I just can't identify most of the ships. Hopefully today will be different.

Okay, so it's getting ridiculous now. I couldn't figure this one out, so I had to go to the web for the answer. It's actually General Grevious' ship, Soulless One. At least I'm not the only one aggravated by the inclusion of new ships with the old.

"The new ships have no soul!", Bob cries. I hesitantly remind him that he doesn't either.

That only seems to anger him further, and he decides to take his frustration out on today's model.

He actually got some good distance with that throw.

"Tell Lego they have four more days to make things right, or I'm going to get really angry. And they won't like me when I'm angry." I mention that they probably don't like him regardless of his mood, and after that I woke up on the floor with hundreds of tiny little bites all over me.

Apparently, I wouldn't like him when he's angry either.

Lego Star Wars Advent Calendar Day 19

Things are coming down to the wire now. Just another 5 days left in the calendar, and 6 more left until Christmas. I hate to say it, but I'll actually be glad to not have to post every day. I feel like I would rather do quality over quantity, even if that means only 2 or 3 posts a week. Until then, you can look forward to another 5 days of advent calendar goodness. Speaking of, it's time to open door number 19.

What the feck? Yet another one that I'm clueless about. I can only assume that this is another spacecraft from the little watched (by me at least), prequel trilogy.

We're examining this one from every angle, trying to figure out what it could be. It looks like it could be a shuttle of some sort, , but it has to be one of the most awkwardly built craft ever made.

Maybe if I fiddle with its widget...

At this point, I'm ready to write this one off as some sort of Imperial Roomba. Hey, somebody needs to keep the hallways clean on the Star Destroyers. Here's to hoping that tomorrow brings us something that is identifiable. Keep your fingers crossed!

Lego Star Wars Advent Calendar Day 18

Today's a sick day for me, so this one will be short and sweet. Also, one more week till Christmas, yey!

Today we have the Rebel soldier. We first saw these guys trying and failing to keep the Princess from falling into the Empire's hands. I think that may have been the only time we saw them in this uniform, but I'm hopped up on cold medicine, so don't take my word for it.

Uh-oh, here comes Bob, time for some zany hijinks..

ACHOOO!

Bless you! Well, it looks like I'm not the only one needing a sick day. Go get your rest buddy, we'll wow them again tomorrow.

I think I see some brain in there. That can't be good.

Lego Star Wars Advent Calendar Day 17

One more week to go. I just can't believe how quickly this year has flown by. Not much longer, and we'll be celebrating the new year. Until then, we have some flaps to open.

If yesterday was the sports car, then today is the convertible. This is another one that I don't really recognize from any of the movies. It's pretty sharp looking though, with its candy apple green paint job.

Bob, being the curious monster that he is, wanted to see which ship was the fastest. Since he's too big to actually pilot either one, he decided a drag race would be the proper way to do things.

Ready! Set!

Um..Bob? You may want to move..

Go!

It appears that we have a winner. I really didn't expect the Naboo fighter to be the fastest out of this group, but it seems it took the crown this time. Maybe they'll have a rematch, if Bob's feeling up to it that is.

I'm okay!

Lego Star Wars Advent Calendar Day 16

One of these days, I'll get the advent posted on time. Ah who am I kidding..It doesn't matter if it's late, as long as it's there, right? Well, today's going to be a busy day, so let's get on with it.

It appears we have another starfighter. I don't know what this model is called, but it's a rather sharp one. It reminds me of a hot rod, with that long, sleek nose, and those huge thrusters on either side. It looks fast and dangerous.

It looks like Bob wants to take it for a spin. Unfortunately, he doesn't seem to be able to find a way in. Sorry, buddy!

Lego Star Wars Advent Calendar Day 15

9 more days until Christmas Eve! I never realized how difficult it was to come up with something everyday, even if it is just a short nonsensical blurb. Just over a week, and then I'm taking a break. Just a short one, since I'm sure there will be plenty more to write about after the holidays. Enough of that, on to the Legos!

Oh man, a Snowtrooper! These guys are the coolest looking variant of the Stormtroopers. I think it's the helmet, it just looks so much more menacing with those smaller eyepieces. Plus, they seemed to be quite a bit more effective than their regular brethren.

Bob's dealt with the regular Stormtroopers before, but the Snowtrooper is an oddity to him. He decides to cement his authority with a staring contest between the two of them.

Oh no! What horrors lurked beneath that helmet, sufficient  to frighten even the undead?

Now that is the face of evil there folks. I'm sure Bob won't be gone for good though. He's never been one to give up early.


Also, his memory is pretty bad.