Free Comic Book Day 2022

Hey My Fellow Comic Book Nerds,

Today is all about Free Comic Book Day.  It's that day special day of the year comic book store offer up free comic books from some best in the game. Comic companies make special comics to offer up that give fans a taste of their comics. It was started as a way to introduce new readers to the comic book genre. It's always held the first Saturday in May, with the exception of last year due to Covid and it was in August. Well this year was back at it's regularly scheduled time, and while I still masked up and was careful despite having all my shots, I found it less Covid Anxiety inducing than last year. 

Outfit:

So first things first I needed the right outfit, now I don't usually cosplay for FCBD, but I do like to geek it up. Take last year I heard there was going to be a Critical Role comic so I wore the shirt I have from the show in honor of it, and it made a great picture. So this year when with my hat Fangirl made me that's adorned in nerdy pins. I did a variation on my yellow newsprint nails, and actually did comic print ones, that heart ring in the pic was made by Fangirl as well. Wore some Legend of Zelda socks, my Docs that recently got a hand colored pink skull upgrade, my Mom decorated "My Geek is Showing" shirt, I wanted to do something with a plain red shirt, unfortunately my handwriting is crap. Then I finished off with some geeky jewelry first this necklace, made by you guessed it Fangirl, she gave this to me on what I call my "Bad Wolf" birthday and since Doctor Who was on my mind I see a blue box with stars two hearts and thought aw it's Doctor Who themed! Well until I found out she hadn't made it with those intentions years later, oh well it still reminds me of Who. Which congrats to Ncuti Gatwa on being named the new Doctor, look forward to Traveling through Space and Time with you! I also wore this beaded bracelet I received as a favor from the Marshmallow Rainbows Maid Cafe at AARC one year. If this con returns next year with the maids you should check them out.

The Places:

Comic Envy

Our first stop was Comic Envy in Asheville on Merrimon Avenue. Of the two comic book stores we frequent this is the one we've been going to the longest. We were greeted by this lovely lady who I'm almost certain is Jean Grey, let me know in the comment if I'm off:

X-Men have Comic Envy Covered

 

There were comics a plenty to choose from. I didn't have a huge list I wanted this year, but I managed to get all I want, and there was plenty to choose from.

One of the special guests was set up, sadly I didn't get a picture of him, and I'm not sure which one it was. I conversed with one of the workers their who was nice. I really had a great time.

 

Some of the great worker at Comic Envy

 Morgan's Comics

Our next stop was to Morgan's comics in West Asheville, where we can be found at least once a month. 

 

 We were greeted by a couple interesting this the storm troopers pictured above, and this two headed snake skeleton pictured below.

 

 

The ever trusty sandwich board that gives us the deets.

At the store was Morgan herself (pictured above). This is an awesome woman. She's runs this amazing store, she's the first female owned comic shop in Western North Carolina, and she's literally the store's hero she came in an saved it. I'm not kidding you can read about it in this Citizen Times article. She's always a pleasure to talk to.

Matt, Morgan's Husband, standing in the new Pokemon store.

The store was celebrating it's new section opening called the Pokemon Sanctuary, it's a little section in the back of their store dedicated to Pokemon.

 

It is a small but mighty store!

One of the people signing there was Hope Larson, who worked on some Batgirl comics.  

And can we talk about Morgan's personalized comic bags? They are so cute!

 

 The Rest of The Day:

Seems Morgan's was not the only spot having fun in West Asheville the Odditurium was also having this fun looking event.

We had a late Chinese Buffet Lunch, then hit up a couple Goodwills and then called it a day. Not a bad one at that.

The Haul:

I utilized my full comic allowance at each store, but only five were for me, the rest were for my comic loving sister who had to work that day. But all in all a good year.

 

  I hope you have a good day, read comics, and God bless.

*Thrifty Geek*

Sim Life of Thrifty Geek Episode One- New Town Few Simoleons

Hello Simmers,

Today we'll start a new thing I've been wanting to do for a while. I wanted to do a Thrifty Geek Sim series and now I'm starting it! I'm using Sims 3, due to the fact it's the only sims I have nearly all the stuff for. I do have Sims 4, but it's just base game and I can't do much with that. This was going to be a web series on Youtube, but the lag of this game, my computer, and just no set up for this makes it hard to do. I did record the footage, sadly no sound sound was had, didn't know it was cut off, and editing was a nightmare, and I just had no quiet time to do a voice over work. This forced me to have to take screen shots from the video. I would let you see it, but I can't get this to load anywhere. I edited on open shot video editor, if your curious. So from now on I just post photo stories here. Sound good?

Episode One- New Town Few Simoleons

First let's introduce our character:

 

Thrifty Geek Sim Style

Name: Thrifty Geek

Personality:

Adventurous- I chose this trait cause I want sim me to have a adventurous spirit. In real life I have an adventurous spirit, but it's on a non outrageous level. Like no sky diving or scuba diving. Sim me is basically fulfilling some of my wishes.

Bookworm- I love me some books. This is a trait I have in real life. Anyone who's been here before has seen my library posts. So yeah love me some books.

Cat Person- I am a cat person in real life, though I have some love for dogs too. But I just jive with cats. 

Frugal- I am Thrifty Geek. I love to thrift, and live in dollar stores and clearance. Kinda have to when your broke. So my sim shall share the trait.

Lucky- I don't know if I could call myself lucky in real life, but my sim will be. 

Sign:

Gemini- I am a Gemini in real life as well.

Favorites:

Food- Cookies- I love cookies, especially chocolate chip.

Music- Geek Rock- I'm actually a fan of a multitude of genres, including Geek, but I figured this would be the perfect music fave for the sims Thrifty Geek.

Color- Aqua- Blue is actually my favorite color in real life, but since they had two blues I went with Aqua since it's closest to my favorite blue which is Sky Blue.

Lets look at where we are living:

Town:

Sim me is gonna live in Sunset Valley. I thought it's be a good basic town, that has a beach. The only thing is some things like scuba diving areas aren't available in this town. That's one thing I don't like about Sims 3 is they didn't allow for everything to be experience in every town. Dive areas are only in the Archipelago and I don't know if there's a way to build a dive area in other towns. Let me know if there is.

House:

I'm living at 50 Water Lily Lane in the Shotgun Style home, though I intend to expand. Now I'm playing rags to riches style which means I won't be motherlodeing this. I'll be earning it old school. Furniture and items will only be got when I earn the money, get gifted them, through tickets at the festivals, or finding them.

So first things first gonna use my final funds to add to the house:

I kept the daisies, because they are one of my favorite flowers and added some rose bushes, which are my other favorite. 

 I added this willow tree, because I love willows, I think I also added these huckleberry bushes. We sometimes forage for huckleberries for some huckleberry pie. 

Then lastly this whimsical fantasy tree I always like:

I added a little on the inside:

Security system, for robbers

Bed, cause I need something to sleep on

MP3 player, I need tunes

Guitar, so I can achieve my real life dream of playing in sims, and I can earn some money

My High School Diploma, so the world can know I graduated from New Community School for the Gifted with Merit. I did graduate with honors in real life.

So one of our first visitors was the University mascot:

It's a stare down

I shall befriend the mascot and learn his mascot ways. He also delivered some things that will be valuable to me in the future: the university welcome pack. For you see my first goal of this series is to go to university. 

The power of an education!

 

So I'm apparently oblivious as a sim, cause took me a minute to see a dang mysterious portal had appeared in my yard:

 

 So we've bought a house, we've spruced it up. And now we're broke...

What are we gonna do?

Get ice cream apparently... *sighs* Well chocolate makes everything better, even being broke.

So now you had your sweets it's time for job hunting right?

 Nope we're going to go to the gym and watch sciencey things on the TV. *sighs* I'm actually without a TV in real life too, so I get how sim me feels. But enough television if we want a TV we need a job. And where is the perfect place for a bookworm to work:

The bookstore! To be surrounded by books all the time. Plus there's nearby dumpsters to dive for treasures, which my OCD will not allow in real life. 

I feel sorry for whoever was driving this cab after my dive. Bet they were glad when I got home.

The dives proved fruitful I got a dining table, some Copper, Lapis Lazuli, and a couch.

At least I have something to sit on now, where I can enjoy a bowl of cereal.

 

Listen to some tunes before bed. I do listen to music a lot.

We dream of books we are to encounter the next day at work.

 

A new day dawns:

Time to wake up, you got get ready for your first day of work.

 

 

We practice a bit to shake of the first day of work jitters. Love this shirt.

 

This is what sim me decides to wear to work?! Geez look at those legs. Definitely don't have those in real life, and dude can you watch the road and not me?

Although it did get the attention of this cutie.

So well end here. I'll post again at some point, you know I rarely keep schedules here.

I hope you enjoyed. Tomorrow is Free Comic Book Day! I'll try to post about it next week. Have a good week, sim on, and God Bless. 

*Thrifty Geek*

Monthly Randoms- April 2022- No Internet, Easter, and the Blue Bunny Queen

 Hey  Friends,

Time for the monthly randoms. Today we talk Easter, no internet, and a great mental health tune.

No Internet

So Tuesday or Wednesday a couple weeks ago I was online and the internet stopped working. It was windy so I looked at my modem to see if it was down due to the weather, well usually it's only the bottom two lights that go out, but that day it was all of them. Something told me to go check the satellite and when I did I smelt smoke, and saw  red hot line and a small flame erupted at the corner of the house. Luckily it was small so we easily doused it, and unplugged the power till we got the cable cooled and safe. Luckily all we had was some scorched grass and slight burn mark on the house. 

So I called my internet company since we pay extra for issues like this to get repaired with no extra costs. I'm figuring a couple days without the internet. They couldn't get someone out till the 30th. So I was without internet eleven days. I'm already without a TV now the net. Mental health was not happy and that's why this post is late, for once it wasn't the mental health hydra b*****. 

This led to some issues like my job, which had an assignment due the 28th, two days before the person was suppose to come to fix it. This was okay, cause I got to spend time at my library, which I haven't got to do in person in years. I usually check out books digitally, cause I can't get to a library branch easily.

Easter

So Easter was last month, got a new candy supply, even adults get baskets at my house. I added to my blue bunny army this year. 

 

I have lots of blue bunnies, this isn't even all of them.

 A few days earlier Fangirl gave me these lovely blue bunny items:

And the folks hooked me up with this set:

 

I then spent some the day in my queenly attire, blowing my bubbles for I am the blue bunny queen: 

 

Favorites On My Socials

Don't have a lot in the socials this month, actually only one. Fangirl showed me this song by Josiah Frazier and it's totally me. Warning heavy on the swearing.  This is my life everyday.

Things to Watch

So with my internet out, and still no TV. I had to pull out all my DVDs, so I watched a lot of DVDs I'd gotten but hadn't watched yet or hadn't watched in a while, I saw the Dungeons and Dragons cartoon, Sailor Moon, TMNT late 80's/ early 90's, and even the Super Mario Brothers cartoons. Lots of nostalgia. 

Music I'm Jamming To

Fangirl was jamming to Comin' Are The Nein by Chase Noseworthy when we went out earlier last month. I of course had to find it. It's a song written about the Mighty Nein from Critical Role's Campaign Two. Everyone knows I love some Critical Role.

Random Rambles

Crazy Idea Time: Library of Annuals

So you all know I love thrifting, I am Thrifty Geek after all. I will come across sometimes old years books when I'm thrifting, and I always feel sorry them. Just tossed away into the land of second hand far from their owners. I thought it'd be cool to collect all these and put them in a library for people to peruse. 

Well there's another random. I hope you guys have a good week, smile, and God bless.

*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

Musical Moment: Twister Soundtrack

Hey my fellow music lovers,

Today is a segment I haven't done in a bit Musical Moment. It's where I talk albums, playlist, basically anything musical. I'd like to try to do these once a month, the first Monday or close to it as I can. Well today's segment I'm journeying through my CD stash once more to bring you guys some music awesomeness. Today's is new, well new to my collection anyway, the soundtrack to the movie Twister, truth is this CD has been rocking the world since the mid-nineties. So in usual fashion in addition to songs I'll talk a bit about the Cover, booklets, and disc art, cause I feel that's something that doesn't get as much appreciation as much in this digital age.

Artist: Various
Album: Twister Original Soundtrack
Released: 1996

Cover: 

 

We have the Twister tile in red, with a Sepia shot of a scene from the movies. Okay that font they use to list the artist is giving me all the mid-nineties vibes.

Booklet: 

The booklet is comprised of color and black and white stills of the film. The back page features the slogan: "The Dark Side Of Nature", basically what you'd expect for a movie soundtrack, to push the movie.

 

 Back Cover:

 

We see darkened skies and the movie's namesake off menacingly to the side. The movie slogan I guess is featured again. The artist names are in the same red as the movie title from the front.

The Disk: 

The disk feature the title over a reflective surface. Those clouds are not part of the art, but are in fact the clouds above my house when I was taking pictures.
 
The Music:

Humans Being- (Written by Michael Anthony, Sammy Hagar, Edward and Alex Van Halen/ Sung by Van Halen) One of my favorites on the CD, always think of Dustin riding up in his van blaring it. That sweet electric guitar makes you wanna just break out the air guitar.

Virtual Reality- (Written by Michael Glabicki/ Sung by Rusted Root) Got some electric guitar meets twang in this song. Rockabilly with a hint of Louisiana flavor? I don't know  I get a Louisiana vibe with this song.

Talula (BT's Tornado Mix)- (Written and Sung by Tori Amos) The lovely tune by I feel like a ninety's Pop staple. The mentions of chasing tornadoes, as well as being BT's Tornado Mix ties it back to the movie. It has a beat, but not like full on toe taping beat, but a mellow beat that'll get you nodding a bit.

 
Moments Like This- (Written by Viktor Krauss /Sung by Alison Krauss & Union Station) I believe this is a different side to the band I usually associate with country and bluegrass style. This is their sound with a rocking 90's vibe.

Darling Petty- (Written and Sung by Mark Knopfler) We get an Irish band style intro that leads into a gentle rock jam with a deep rambler's voice serenading us. I believe I heard a steal guitar in there? Another song with strong electric presence.

Miss This- (Written by David Pirner/ Sung by Soul Asylum) This song is straight up ninety's that I'd associate more with the teens of the era than the road riding adults in the film. Perhaps a modern, at the time, sound the gang discovered and  loved to rock out on the road.

Broken- (Written by Tanya Donelly/ Sung by Belly) More electric guitar. This is an album of the electric guitar. Here we have a ninety's rocker girl jam, I know I'm saying nineties a lot, but this is one of the albums that shows of their mid point so well.This brings us back to that road warrior vibe I said most the album has so far had, or has a thread of.

Love Affair- (Written by (music) Ennio Morricone (lyrics) Alan and Marilyn Bergman/Sung by k.d lang) This song really slows us down from the rack jams. I can just imagine the gang chilling somewhere between chases and this comes on and Jo and Bill just dance to it spontaneously. Surprising here is a song with no strong electric guitar.

 
How- (Written Lisa Loen/ Sung by Aforementioned singer and Nine Stories) Another slow number with a strong acoustic sound, with a hint of that electric. Yup I love all the guitar sounds, plus Lisa Loeb's vocals.

Meloncholy Mechanics- (Written by Anthony Kiedis, Flea, Dave Navarro, and Chad Smith/ Sung by Red Hot Chili Peppers) I don't know what it is I like about this song, but I do. Starts out this mellow jam then slaps us with hard rock sound of banging drums and electric guitar.

 
Long Way Down (Remix)-( Written by John Rzeznik/ Sung by Goo Goo Dolls) Another heavy rocker in the music line up. One of those song that just makes you wanna jump up, rock out, and bang your head to the beat.

No One Needs To Know-(Written by Shania Twain and R,J. Lange/ Sung by Shania Twain) My other favorite song on this album. Shania is one of my top favorite artists of all time. I loved the video to this where her band and her are performing in the old house we see at the end of the movie, or at least it looks like it. I performed this song for a coffee house one time.

Twisted- (Written by Stevie Nicks/Sung by Stevie Nicks and Lindsey Buckingham) I feel like Stevie Nicks was stable of the mid-nineties soundtrack, I think this is like the second one from the mid to late nineties that had her on it. The song title and weather themed images in the song ties it perfectly to the movie.

Respect The Wind- (Written and Sung by Edward and Alex Van Halen) In a album heavy with the electric guitar it only is fitting we end it with an score featuring a mainly epic electric rock sound backed with a keyboard. You can hear this tune as the credits for the movie start at the end. The title is perfect cause this movie does teach you to respect the power of the wind. Was this wrote for the movie?

I hope you had fun on this trip down the mid-nineties highway. Sad to think Bill Paxton is no longer with us. This is a movie that's in my favorite movies. 

I hope you guys have a good weekend, continue to rock, and God bless!

*Thrifty Geek*

Happy Birthday Maya Angelou!

 Hey friends,

I know this was suppose to be a Musical Moment post, but word reached me today was my favorite poet Maya Angelou's Birthday, and it is now National Poetry Month, it's also Take Your Poet to School Week, and anyone who's been here a bit knows I enjoy poetry, I'm a pot myself, I've actually been published, I mean it was one time, but still makes me published (anyone who has a March 2015 issue of WNC Woman will find my poem Believing in there). Well for all these reasons and a call out to Maya's fans to help celebrate this years Dr Maya Angelou Day of Reading theme Still I Rise, I decided to delay my planned post for this great celebration, by doing the post for Maya I'd already planned to do sometime this month.

How I Discovered Maya Angelou and Her Impact On Me

My first encounter with the activist/poet/writer/actress/singer/any other titles I can't thing of right now was back in middle school. It was in my 8th grade Language arts class taught by Mrs. Hooker where it happened. Our reading for that day in our books was a excerpt taken from I know Why the Caged Bird Sings. I think a section involving the woman in Arkansas she knew growing up who had her own home library that she let Maya use. Well Mrs. Hooker informed us it was part of a whole autobiography and offered it up for any of us to read, maybe for extra credit. Well I joined the list. I remember starting strong plowing through it with my usual read frenzy, but as we got to her older years in the book I suddenly just dropped off reading to the point I'd had it so long I was afraid I'd get in trouble so I had to return it as an unfinished read. I'm still perplexed as why I dropped off, It makes no sense given things I was reading at that time. But that was the start. Over the next couple decades she'd become more elevated in my favorites. Her poem Phenomenal Women would get on my radar when it was used in the movie Beauty Shop. I know this movie isn't a well like as the rest of the franchise, but I love it, and it was curiosity at what beautiful poem they were quoting that led me to look it up, and discover it was Dr Angelou. This is now one of my favorite poems of all time. Maya also is a contributing factor to which Madea movie is my favorite. Madea's Family Reunion is my top favorite and one of the reasons is because Maya has a role as one of the matriarchs in the family. One of my classmates had the pleasure of meeting her at a health convention some years ago, I was jealous of this guy cause he got to shake her hand. I'd hoped to get to get to meet this amazing woman, but sadly it did not get to happen, at least this side of the veil of life, for as many or you know, or may not know, she passed in 2014. I honored her my watching OWN's Sunday dedication the did, by airing all the specials they did involving her. It was during that watching that I burst into tears. I'm not sure if it's what Maya was saying, the fact I never got to meet her, the fact she was gone, or some combination, but this is the first time I've cried over a noted human's passing. I've been sorrowful over many. but never cried. I even created a digital art piece in her memory, called The Caged Bird Is Free. I like to think she's ascended to a glorious higher form.

Still I Rise

This years theme for the theme, for Maya Angelou's Birthday celebration they've decided for her  Day of Reading to do it around another powerful poem of hers: Still I Rise.

I find this poem to be one of her most amazing works due to the fact how it speaks to me and empowers me. I've often found people who'd suppress because I'm poor, or a woman, and there's probably people who'd try to suppress me because of my mental health. It's due due to my mental health that I find a bully in my mind in the form the Mental Health Hydra. When she describes the things people do to her  it sounds like some of the the thoughts the hydra sends my way trying to break me, but like the poem says I keep rising. Even when this monster crushes me and I feel like I want to give up, I keep coming back, rising up from my broken thoughts, because I will not give it the satisfaction of beating me. When I read this poem it reminds me how I constantly am rising up in my daily battles.

My Future Maya Angelou Shelf

It's my goal to someday have a space big enough where I can properly display my books and book/author items. I'd also like to dedicate shelf space to certain series or authors. One of the authors I want to give space to is Dr Angelou. So I thought given the day I'd take time to discuss what that'd include or what I'd like to to have included as part of that space, if this is something you have no interst in just skip to the conclusion.

First a foremost are her books, sadly all I have been able to get is the Phenomenal Woman: Four Poems Celebrating Women book which includes the title poem and Still I Rise, it's the book I used in the above picture. I also have her Hallelujah! The Welcome Table: A Lifetime of Memories with Recipes cookbook. My book goals is to purchase the blue version of this Juniper Books set of her complete works they would look gorgeous in her space.

Included in this space would be the Maya Angelou items I have acquired in addition to her books. First there's her lovely quarter that I managed to get a hold of thanks to my Granny:

 

Speaking of issued items, there is also her stamps, which I swore my folks had given me a framed set, and I haven't found them yet, so yes those will be included if I find them, if not they'll be something I want to get. Other items I want to get include this Maya Angelou Barbie® Inspiring Women™ Doll, cause this hits my poetic and toy collector sides. She's beautiful in doll form, and I just love the Barbie mint of her book I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, it's so cute.

Lastly is this beautiful Litographs poster for the Phenomanal Woman book I have. This wouldn't fit on the shelf, but it would be displayed on a wall nearby, at least I hope it would. I was actually a contributor for their tribute project they did in Dr Angelou's honor after her passing. I use to know where I was at in this guess I'll have to hunt for it again. Wouldn't mind the bag from this as a book tote she says hinting to gift giving peeps, actually this whole section is a gift giving hints for you in case you guys missed it.

Conclusion Section For Those Skipping The Last Section

So to conclude I wish Maya a happy birthday. I hope she is celebrating today phenomenally, cause she truly is a "phenomenal woman", and yes I said "is" cause death does not negate this fact. Happy Birthday Dr. Angelou!

So my friends take time today to read her work, watch one of her movies, and just remember her. Also remember it is Take Your Poet to School Week, with Poet in a Cupcake Day this Friday, and Tweetspeak does have a Maya Angelou cut-out you can use for the celebration, and you can reuse it for Take You Poet to Work Day in the 3rd Wednesday in July. 

So have a good week, read a poem (especially a Maya one), and God bless!

*Thrifty Geek*