A Nerd In The Kitchen–Iced Sugar Cookies

You really can't eat just one.

You really can’t eat just one.

 

     Back in the 70’s, my mom started a tradition of baking sugar cookies every Christmas. Working a full-time job, she didn’t mess around with mixing up her own dough, but instead used Pillsbury Slice & Bake cookies, which is still available today. She turned those cookies up a notch with homemade icing.  I have no idea where she got the recipe–probably from a magazine. Wherever it came from, we still make these cookies 3 or 4 times every year.

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Misc. Musings–October 2013

Yes Dear. Of course I love to hear all about your hobby crap.

     What up Nerds? Just sitting here on the couch watching Bama stomp Arkansas like a flaming bag of dog poop on the front porch and pondering what’s up next for Operation Get Off Your Butt.  Thought I’d think out loud and offer a few tid-bits for my seven loyal readers.

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Step Right Up–Lovecraftian Sideshow Art on Kickstarter

Nyarlathotep sideshow poster by Midnight Circle

     Much to my wife’s annoyance, I just can’t keep off my Kickstarter app.  Sitting in the doctor’s office (a frequent happening for me lately)  or waiting for my daughter to wrap up her play rehearsal…I just can’t NOT look to see what’s new.  One of the first things I usually do is search the keywords, “Cthulhu” and “Lovecraft.”   A couple of days ago, I hit upon this project. And while there’s only about a week left in the campaign, I still have to drop a plug for the Lovecraft Inspired Sideshow Art Series by Midnight Circle LLC.

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Hit Me H.P.–Cthulhu Playing Cards on Kickstarter

Cthulhu (Bicycle) Playing Cards by Dann Kriss Games

Cthulhu (Bicycle) Playing Cards by Dann Kriss Games

     A few months ago, I told ya’ll about my new hobby (because can you really have too many?) of collecting playing card decks off Kickstarter. To date, I’ve backed thirteen playing card projects, ten of which have funded and I’ve even already received my first deck.  Today, I’m back with a heads up on a really cool deck featuring everyone’s favorite elder gods.

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World of Nerdcraft–Sleepy Hollow Scarecrow

SC13

     As I mentioned last week, we like to decorate the front of our house for Halloween. Nothing too extravagant…until now.

     I was sitting here yesterday working on a blog post when I got a text messaged photo from my Aunt (who’s more like my big-sis) showing off their new home decked out for the season. It inspired me to turn up our own display a notch.  For years, I’ve had it in the back of my mind to construct a scarecrow inspired by the one featured in Tim Burton’s Sleepy Hollow. In the spirit of Operation Get Off Your Butt, I decided to go ahead and finally build it.

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It Came From The Nerd Cave PSA–The Warning Labels on Ladders Are TOTALLY For Real

You put your right hand in...

You put your right hand in…

     What’s up nerds of Earth?  I know you’ve all been itching to see more of my skeleton and I aims to please. What we have above is my right hand–no breaks and/or fractures to be found.  Frankly, I’m wondering if I’m not a real-life version of Bruce Willis in Unbreakable because that hand should be jacked up.  Why? Because I’m pretty much an idiot for operating as if the law of gravity and OSHA safety regulations don’t apply to me.

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Mars Attacks-The Miniatures Game on Kickstarter

Mars Attacks Miniatures Game by Mantic Games

Mars Attacks Miniatures Game by Mantic Games

     If this was a podcast, I’d be squealing like a little schoolgirl.  To say I loves me some Mars Attacks is like saying Rebel Wilson prefers a gunny sack of Krispy Kreme donuts to a bean sprout salad with a light vinaigrette. It’s an understatement. And before anyone accuses me of hating on the fat people, I’d be right there with Rebel choking down chocolate covered creme-filleds and slamming a 2 liter Mountain Dew.

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You Down With O.C.D? Yeah, You Know Me!

One of these things is not like the other...

One of these things is not like the other…

     What up nerds?  A big part of Operation Get Off Your Butt is about getting organized. That’s something I’m usually all over, but lately…not so much. Years ago, my uncle, referring to someone I’ve long forgotten, said, “He needs to get his fragmented <stuff> together.”  Except he didn’t say “stuff.”  That’s one of those sayings that has stayed with me over the years and I use it frequently. It describes exactly what I’m trying to accomplish in my own life.

     You’d think someone who lost everything in a house fire two years ago wouldn’t have had much opportunity to get out of control as far as organization goes. I mean, Dude…you started from scratch. How bad could it be?  Well, I figured out a way to do it, so I’m going to have to spend a good part of fall 2013 getting stuff in order. The good news is that I enjoy the work.

    One of the many mini-projects within that effort highlights my particular brand of nerdy O.C.D. And yes, I realize I’m probably reaching a bit here on the definition of Obessive Compulsive Disorder.  But the title was too good to pass up. Anyway, what am I talking about and what am I up to?

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The Nerd Bunker–Tidying Up The Kit Stash

The Kit Stash BEFORE

The Kit Stash BEFORE

     Last Saturday, I partially crossed off one item from my Nerd Bunker “To Do” list. After our fire, I recovered about 45 kits from the closet where I kept them.  All the ones on the top shelf were melted into slag and/or charred beyond recognition, but the ones stored lower survived. Except for the boxes that is. 95% of them suffered water & smoke damage.

     Since we moved in, I’ve been recycling boxes when I get stuff from eBay & Amazon and using them to store those kits. So far, I’ve gotten about 1/3 done but still have a bunch of crushed, warped, soot-covered kits on the shelf, as you can see above.