The Guild, Supernatural, Hitchhiker's Guide, and Ghostbusters: AKA My Birth Week

 Hey Friends,

Last week was my birthday and there was fun things to do through out the week. I finally decided to adopt a birth week celebration, because I don't get a lot of opportunities to celebrate me. I shook off the misconceptions I had that only self absorbed people did birth weeks. So let me take you through some of the last week plus a few days.

A Little Guildie Fun 

Did some rewatching of The Guild, due to the fact I had been working on my book and a character had been rewatching it, so it got me wanting to do the same. It's also a good time for a refresher since they announced their going to start fundraising for a movie. 

If your not familiar with The Guild, it's a web series actress Felicia Day came out with in 2007 that ran till 2013. It follows a game guild who meet in real life and shenanigans ensue. This is a required viewing in the late 2000's to early 2010's section of your geek history education.

My 42 Birthday and a Misadventure in Cooking 

So like I said in a previous post this was a low key b-day. The PMDD was kindish to me that day. I started with making my pitcher of mockarita so it'd have time to chill. I used The Speckled Palate's Virgin Margarita recipe as a guide. I deviated in that I couldn't get fresh lime juice.

After this I watched a little more of The Guild and Trent The Traveler videos.  My Grannie stopped by to give me her gifts one of which is a purse that is awesome cause it's a cross body bag that holds all my stuff. 

Later in the day I began to prepared the main dish for my birthday supper from Supernatural: The Official Cookbook, Winchester Surprise:

This was my most ambitious recipe I think I've ever tried that wasn't baking. My Mom gave me some pointers before heading to church with Grannie, leaving me to my own devices with just the cookbook as my guide. 

          

Now I deviated from the recipe a bit it calls for ground pork and ground beef, well I decided to use what we had in the freezer which was ground pork sausage and ground deer meat and instead of chopping up pickles Mom suggested I use dill relish that it was basically chopped pickles. I feel the Winchesters are use what you got kind of people.

 

 

The other ways I deviated from the recipe in shredded cheese and instead of corn chips I put pepperoni on top to make an image of a planet to represent Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy for it is the birthday I become the answer to life, the universe, everything.

 

 

I decided on a side of peas. Now my Mom had instructed me that these particular can of peas needed a long boil... I over did it a bit...

 

Winchester Surprise was a hit. Mom and Grannie loved it! The drink was good, but very sweet, so sweet you couldn't drink much in one go. I don't know if the actual margarita drink is that sweet or not. Can someone let me know?

 I also had a late night s'more. It's become the birthday tradition for me.

My Birthday Haul

 

So here is my birthday haul:

Back right the purse my Grannie gave me.

Back left is my Legend of Zelda 40th Anniversary Magazine, which may have a slight error in it, but I still love it.

Front right is the complete collection of the 42nd Anniversary editions of the Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy series. I'd said I'd like the first book, wasn't expecting the whole thing. Y'all the books smell so good. 

Front center is a Lego Botanicals Dandelion. I've already put it together and it's hanging out in a vase.

Front right is a bottle of  Body Fantasies Cotton Candy Body Spray that was suppose to be a Christmas present but got forgotten.

I also got this homemade bag:

 

   

 

It was a collaborative effort between my Mom and Grannie. The strap had to get adjusted it was a little long.

 

 

June 6th

 

So the Saturday after my birthday was a full day and of course I get a lousy night of sleep. First was my family reunion. A time to reunite with family and partake of food. This year I had a cousin grill up burgers and hot dogs. Fangirl came at my invite, cause we were going out after words in honor of my birthday since she hadn't been able to come up on the day. I figured we lunch at the reunion and hit local stores to save money so we can go out on her birthday. 

I got some belated birthday wishes, and one not so good sentiment. Had a cousin's wife asked me my age I told her 42, she's like that's a good age your getting everything together in your head, then your body falls apart. It's like that's a kind of fraked up to tell some one. I've been feeling good about myself in my 30's and 40's when it comes to my aging. I've felt good physically despite my preexisting  physical issues I've had since I was in high school. I've approached all my birthdays with joy and hope once I discovered the scary tales people go on about being in your 30's, 40's, and so on is bull crap. I feared the big 3-0 back in my 20's, but as I got closer I saw it wasn't the scary beast people made it out to be, and I threw the most fun birthday with rainbow cake and ring pops. It's how I also approached my 40th. So I tend to ignore such talk and follow how my aging is going for me not someone else's aging or preconceived notions of aging.

I was a bit tired and irritable due to little sleep and the fact later that day the inevitable end of PMDD would happen. After the reunion Fangirl and I headed out. We hit up three thrift stores, a used book store, and a stop at Geek Mountain. After the shopping I went home and killed over into slumber.

 

June 6th Haul

 

 So first up is my gifts from Fangirl:

 

 

In the back is the final three books I needed in Tamora Pierce's Protector of the Small series. Then there's the blue dice bag Fangirl handmade for me, it's now holding all the loose dice Fangirl has gifted me over the years.The black box holds these beautiful fluid filled dice that have glittery things within.

They're all sitting in a dice chest Fangirl painted. It's currently housing all the dice sets my friends gifted me.

 

Now we come to the shopping haul. This is all the things we purchased that day:

 

  

 

Top right is a Superman/Wonder Woman comic I got at Geek Mountain.

Top left is a blue bunny Fangirl found cast off in a random section of Goodwill, she gifted him to me for the Blue Bunny Army, I'm naming him Ford after the character in Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy.

Middle left is my Goodwill find: Greenwitch by Susan Cooper, the next book I needed in the Dark Is Rising series. 

Bottom is Comic book bags from Geek Mountain, cause I have naked comics in my collection.

 

Ghostbusters Day

 

Lastly is Ghostbusters Day, now the 8th was outside my birth week this year, but it's close enough so I'll count it. Ghostbusters is a special franchise to me, because I was born the week it premiered in theaters. The day started by ducking out for my Mom's doctor appointment and after that was dragged out way longer than we thought we returned home. I got a late start watching the Ghostbusters movie. Like the 40th anniversary viewing I decided to eat a s'more during the Stay Puff Marshmallow destruction scene, it adds a another level to the viewing:

I got the idea for this from The Baby-Sitter's Club #9 The Ghost at Dawn's House. In one scene of the book the girls make s'mores to eat for that end part of the movie. It was a good idea, Mom mom even joined in the fun.

 

Okay that was a long post at least it felt like it writing it, then add in just bad attention span and power going out while trying to write it, it took much longer. So I hope your weekend is good and have some fun out there. See ya!

 

*Thrifty Geek* 

Ghostbusters and the long awaited Ghostbusters: Afterlife review

 Hello Ghostbusting Friends,

Okay, been sitting on this post idea since this past November. It's way overdue to discuss Ghostbusters: Afterlife. So sit back, today is gonna be all bout the boys. Now you know how we do here, do a bit of my personal history then we get to the actual review. So let's get cracking. 

A slimming is going to go down

Origin Story: Ghostbusters and Mine

So I arrived in early June of 1984 then a few days later that same week this epic movie would arrive. I of course was a five day old baby, so this all was lost on me; my only concerns were if my belly was full and my diaper was changed. Well fast forward five years and they were releasing Ghostbusters II. I was oblivious to this still cause I'd just turned five two weeks earlier. Since my family didn't get a chance to go to the theaters often I wouldn't see the second movie, which was the first of the live action movies I believe I ever saw, until a couple years later. I was into Ghostbusters already thanks to the cartoon series The Real Ghostbusters. In my imagination I was busting ghosts with the guys. We had Slimer stickers on the fish tank and I so wanted the different Kenner equipment toys they put out. You can see the commercials I drooled over for these toys thanks to 910dohead's Kenner Compilation video. You can also check out Ghostbuster News' review of the trap, it also has links to the other Kenner toys he reviewed, he's site is an amazing bed of Ghostbusters activity, so check him out. 

I'd finally see my first movie, 2, when one of the local channels was airing the second movie. I wouldn't see the original movie till I think after we got our satellite in middle school. Well it started an hour before my sister and mine's bedtime, which meant my sister missed the second half, but not me cause I was sick and wasn't going to be going to school, so I didn't have to go to bed! This meant I got to see that epic scene where the guys made the Statue of Liberty walk with positively charged slime, Howard Huntsberry, and that giant NES controller, we had one of those, which we probably used to play the two GB games.

Of course times have change, but I'm still a big fan. While I'm not scouring places for those old Kenner toys, I have been wanting this RP Minis of the P.K.E. meter, since I don't have a lot of space for big busting tools (I also would like the trap and proton pack their links are in the "Frequently Bought Together" section). I  like that they look like the movies version of the tools. I also want this Tobin's Spirit Guide for my bookshelves and of course the ultimate collection, cause I don't have any of the movies yet. What I'm a poor geek!

In 2016 Answer the Call came out, and I know a lot of fans were upset cause it wasn't the third movie they hoped for, some ridiculously so, but I still enjoyed it. I mean Patty smacking the ghost out of Penny, and Holtzman ripping those ghost a new one was awesome! Those two have a place on my dream Ghostbusting team. I mean was it as good as the originals, no not by a long shot, but I loved the idea of an all girl team. That being said no frelling flames in comments for difference in opinion please.

When Ghostbusters: Afterlife in the original franchise was announce I was excited we were finally getting that third movie. Filming began a month after my 35th birthday. For those keeping score at home that's another five age for me and the main movies, hope I don't have to wait till I'm 45 for another. Of course we all know Covid delayed it. It was worth the wait though.

Okay, now that we're caught up let's get into this new movie. I'll do this in two sections: my movie theater experience then the review. Sound good? Cool.

Ghostbusters:Afterlife: The Movie Experience

I was so excited to see this movie and had been waiting since 2019 to see it. I of course had to go in style. Which since I have no GB themed shirts was up to my nails. The slimer-like green from My Beauty Spot® gave my nails that just slimmed look:

We decided to go to our local theater, which I had only been to one other time since it's reopening. This movie would mark my first movie, in a theater, since Covid began.

Our local theater was geared with special cup and popcorn buckets for the movie. Fangirl treated me to a Slimer topped cup. Squees!

He was actually willing to share

It's been a while since I've went in to a movie so excited, and came out even more excited. The night even got in the spooky mood with a full moon:

Crappy Moon Photo

I used my cup a long while after, don't worry I washed it. The Slimer topper, which pops off, decided to reunite with my Venkman Funko Pop:

Aww

He slimmed me!

It was a great experience, and the movie was good too, it was nice after three years on fandoms ripping us to shreds to be happy with something a fandom put out: Infinity War 2018, Endgame 2019, Supernatural 2020. Actually this premiered a year to the day of the SPN series finale, so it was like a soothing fandom balm to my fragile geeky soul.

Ghostbusters: Afterlife: The Review

WARNING! THERE WILL BE SPOILERS! So if you don't wish to be spoiled proceed to the next section, I usually try not to do spoilers, but I just feel so much time has passed, and I just gotta talk about some parts! 

Okay, let's start with the opening. I loved they had the actor in shadow, so we could have the illusion it was Harold Ramis. Which is probably why Egon's demise didn't hurt as much as it did, because I'd already went through Harold's passing in 2014:

My memorial pin from GBfans.com

Then we meet Egon's daughter and kids. It sucked having Egon being cast in such a dark light by his daughter, and eventually Ray, I've always had a soft spot for Egon since the cartoon. Paul Rudd as Phoebe's teacher/GB fanatic was perfect, he was the right guy to lead Phoebe into the ghostbusting world. I can't believe the world forgot the Ghostbusters though, you figure a walking Statue of Liberty would have some historical significance, but of course with each passing decade even big events get washed away. 

It's fun seeing Phoebe unlock her Granddad's legacy. It's also great seeing Trevor, being the typical teen dude who's happy to have a set of wheels for cheap, bringing our beloved and neglected Ecto back to life. Podcast is an amazing addition to the team. He really is the Ray to Phoebe's Egon in a sense, I think Ghostbusters News mention he was their Ray and I'm inclined to believe it. He has an interest in the paranormal and rocks the visors. Then Lucky is kind of the Winston, that streetwise soul who kind fell in with this new busting crew. I wish I'd had a movie like this as a kid. Where I say kids and teens busting, I mean I was already busting ghosts in my head, but this would have been amazing.

The throw backs to the previous movies were great. All the little nods to the past that us fans would recognize, or try to remember if it was a previous movie reference. This is a great way to bring new fans to the world, and hold on to the old ones. Love the return of the old foes like Gozer and the Terror Dogs. Thought that scene in Walmart with the dog was hilarious, and reminiscent of Tully's terror dog attack. We even get to see a character only previously mentioned in the first movie Ivo Shandor, the Gozer worshipping builder, who's making  all these end of the world inducing buildings.

While I enjoyed the old I also loved the new, especially the new ghosties. Muncher has got that Slimer charm that made us all love the spud to begin with. Then there's the mini Stay Puff Marshmallow Men! These little sources of destruction are so cute!!!! My Mom has only seen them in commercials and she loves them already.

Now I heard they'd included Egon in some way. I was thinking "what he gonna be one of the ghosts"?  Heh, yeah. It was so creative how they had Egon and Phoebe interact, that chess game between them was heartwarming, you know before Egon was a sore loser. And him guiding her in his work area with the lamp, was genius. But the best part was at the end, cause I'm here thinking ghost Egon would be something Star Wars like, but no it was far superior. That detail to the ghost, I'd swear they'd summoned up Harold's ghost just to play the part. Then that ending where the original team, in addition to the new team up for that final fight. When the other three showed up I got tingles, which thankful still happened thanks to that spoiler of a moment they put in the last trailer, seriously trailer makers don't do that please! Seeing all them together on screen in some form or fashion, I was getting misty eyed, and for once not cause I was sad. Hollywood needs to take notes, things can get emotional without being sad, seriously over these sad endings. But yes just epic!

This movie exceeded my expectations. I hope this will result in more movies, cause I wanna see where their story goes. It was a great blend of old and new, and it was amazing. The future is in good hands.

The End Section After The Spoiler Filled Review

So that concludes this long awaited, at least on my part, review. I hope you enjoyed our little trip down nostalgia, as we celebrated the now and contemplated the future. Hope you have a good week, don't be afraid of the Ghosts, and God bless.

*Thrifty Geek* and Vampire >vv< Kitty

The Ninja Writer's Library- Ghostbusters Comics

Happy Wednesday Book Nerds,

At the end of last month I read three Ghostbuster comics, which is good considering it was that spooky time of year. So let's get to my reviews.

Ghostbusters (2011-2012) by Erik Burnman

In this comic series we return to the familiar world of the Ghostbusters. We find Ray is being haunted in his dreams by his decision of the traveler's form in the first movie, and Gozer trying to return. We see old familiar specters and new ones. It blends well to the established universe thus far.
We also learn the creepy museum creator from the second movie has a sister and nephew. I mean obviously he would have family, but you don't think about these things.

I was kinda amused with one panel with the ghost of Ellen Gold the spirit of a orphanage headmistress who lobbed the spirits of her children at the guys. Yes grim, but just amused my macabre side.

I devoured this book in one night, I mean it's a comic book, but I was interested in the story too.

Ghostbusters (2011-2012) Vol. 2 by Erik Burnman

In this edition of the Ghostbusters Walter Peck being over the Ghostbusters now has imposed physical health regulations on the boys forcing Peter to actually go to the gym, he's also imposed other limitations on the boys limiting their work. Basically Peck being the jerk he's always been. But the gang with orders from the governor are sent to Schenectady, NY to deal with a major event in a theme park, where Peter proves to have the perfect mind to take on the entity. Egon is also faced with a face from the past that helped him get into paranormal research.

Didn't eat this one up as quickly, but still good. There was a creep factor in this one, I mean creepy possessed kid, always creepy. I felt sorry for the ghost of the elderly woman at the rest home. She just wanted her son to visit. *sad face*

It was also cool seeing a story about Tobin who wrote the spirit guide. There's a face to the name now.

Ghostbusters (2011-2012) Haunted America Vol. 3 by Erik Burnman

In this book the Ghostbusters take America. Detroit, New Orleans, Roswell and Seattle all get help from the boys. The guys deal with and army, a Voodoo priestess, alien ghosts, and a musician that's on fire. Their rolling round in an RV that resembles the Ecto 1 with a travel containment unit, yeah that doesn't have potential disaster written on it.

We see Ray have a deep moment with a solider which makes me wonder if he or a family member was in the military. There's also a moment a women who's not quite alive tells Egon he's not alive, that's gotta sting a bit, but given Egon it probably rolled of his back. I am curious what the voodoo priestess gave Egon and how it's gonna be helpful later. Ray pulls something out of the Winchester playbook against some zombies, which is actually something I've read before as a way to get rid of zombies, though my theory it'd only be the mystically resurrected kind, not a viral type zombie outbreak.

We also see Egon argue with a alien believer over if the things in Roswell are alien in nature or ghostly, it was amusing. Something I didn't bring up with the other two books yet is that Ray's Occult Book Store is still open run by a Goth girl named Kylie, who has become another source of info for the guys, which I think is cool.

What are you guys reading this week? Anything good? Let me know in the comments.
Well I hope you guys are having a good week, read lots of books, and God bless you!

Ninja <[0000]---------------[0000]> Writer