In the last few days I have been tagged by both Angela (SciFiChick) and JenClair to do the 8 Random Things Meme.
The rules are simple, post 8 random things/habits about yourself and tag 8 others. I had in mind a post about recent acquisitions lined up for today, so I decided to have fun and combine the two. These (not-so) random pictures will no doubt reveal as much about me as would eight words-only facts. The question of whether or not I am bending the rules for this meme is not open to debate…I believe I am well within the spirit and probably the letter of the law. The real question is whether or not I can stick to just eight. Honestly, you already know the answer to that one, don’t you?
(Wizards: Magical Tales from the Masters of Modern Fantasy)
Never before published short stories by Neil Gaiman, Gene Wolfe, Patricia A. McKillip, Garth Nix, Peter S. Beagle, Orson Scott Card, Jane Yolen and many more! Just published. Resistance was futile!
(The Neddiad, by Daniel Pinkwater)
Some days I structure certain elements of my day around a planned theme. Other days the theme emerges all on its own. Today I entered the bookstore with Neil Gaiman on my mind and no idea that the Wizards book was on the shelf. I then wandered aimlessly into the children’s section and picked up a copy of The Neddiad because I have both heard good things and am a huge fan of Daniel Pinkwater. It was only as I approached the counter that I saw the dustjacket had a front and back quote from Neil Gaiman. Daniel Pinkwater has riotous fun with words. You truly haven’t lived until you’ve read The Snarkout Boys and the Avocado of Death.
(Eternals, by Neil Gaiman, art by John Romita, Jr.)
This collection just came out this past Wednesday to the comic shop. I am anxious to read this since I chose to forgo the single issues and wait for the hardback collection. Reasonably priced, great cover art by Rick Berry.
While at B&N I had to pick up some Star Wars swag to get myself in the right frame of mind to prepare for next week’s 30th Anniversary orgy of all things Star Wars. I have been wanting to check out Geek Monthly, so this was a double bonus.
Another of today’s purchases, and the reason I was in the stores in the first place over my lunch break. I popped for the 2 disc version. Sat down and watched Pan’s Labyrinth with my daughter tonight. Was as choked up by the end as I was the two times I saw it in the theatre. The extras are great. The Charlie Rose interview with film makers Guillermo del Toro, Alfonso Cuaron (Children of Men), and Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu (Babel) alone was worth the extra few dollars for the 2 disc set.
This past Sunday was not only Mother’s Day but was Mary and my 18th wedding anniversary. In addition to our brief getaway, Mary made good use of my Amazon Wishlist and gave me Rollergirls and Ladyhawke. I was thrilled! Thank you, darling.
While in Hermann, Missouri we partook of and brought home what has become our favorite wine, StagsWood Red. It is a very sweet, delicious local wine from Hermannhof Winery.
In addition to the wine, we also left Hermann with a gift pack of Port Chocolate Raspberry Sauce that they drizzle over the ice cream that comes with the 9:30 p.m. cookies and ice cream dessert (picture here). It is sin in a bottle, seriously.
I also came home with some fun stuff from one of the local antique stores.
Mary and I had been looking for an interesting clock for our living room for some time and I found this one online that I immediately went cuckoo over, so I purchased it and gave it to Mary on our anniversary as a surprise gift.
Though not an acquistion for myself, per se, my brood of soon-to-be-adopted poppets came in the mail over the weekend. Petunia, yours is on the way!
And last, but not least, I was excited to find these books at Half-Price Books a few weeks back. I had been looking for that particular copy of Second Foundation by Isaac Asimov for years because I really like the Michael Whelan cover.
There are a handful of books…The Adventures of the Stainless Steel Rat, Han Solo at Star’s End, A World Out of Time by Larry Niven…that I will pick up every time I come across a used copy in good shape. Those three books feature so prominently in my baptism into the world of science fiction that it is a weird obsession with me. The other book that I do this all the time with is Alan Dean Foster’s Glory Lane. It is an extremely dated 80’s science fiction book that I first read on Christmas break during my freshman year at college while visiting high school friends in Iowa. I love it for the 80’s vernacular, the James Gurney cover, and for the simple pleasure this fun story brings to me. This first edition is in near perfect shape.
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You may perhaps be wondering what all the non-poppet figures featured in the above pictures where for. Well, in addition to wanting to steal from Elaine whose book/poppet pictures I poorly imitate, I wanted to include the above figures (representations of characters from Neil Gaiman’s graphic novels The Sandman and The Dreaming) as a visual reference to the next Once Upon a Time Challenge contest that I am unveiling tomorrow. Guess what? The prize involves Neil Gaiman. Surprised?
The figures pictured are:
Dream, of the Endless (With Wizards book)
Delerium, of the Endless(With The Neddiad book)
Abel (With Eternals book)
Eve, and Matthew the Raven (with Rollergirls/Ladyhawke)
Desire, of the Endless (with Port Chocolate Raspberry Sauce)
Death, of the Endless (with clock)
and
Lucien (with Glory Lane/Second Foundation )
Have a wonderful Hump Day, everyone!
As for tagging 8 people, I’m gonna break that rule as well simply because many of you have already been tagged to do this and I would love to read anyone’s 8 random things. Feel free to participate on your site or here in the comments section.
OK, so I HAD to go and order that Wizards book on Amazon. My poor bank account…
I have been waiting for Amazing to deliver Eternals to me – turns out they have two listings for it, and the one I had on order doesn’t appear to be coming in. Have swapped it for the hardback that is in stock….*sigh* Amazon can be quite confusing at times.
I love your figure collection. Also love this twist on the 8 Things meme, very creative!
Can you believe I have Pan’s Labyrinth on DVD and still haven’t seen it? Keep meaning to every time I visit The Boy, but always run out of time. Think I may have to watch it on my own.
Can’t wait to see what the Neil Gaiman contest/giveaway is – on the edge of my seat here!
BTW that clock looks awesome.
I hadn’t heard of that Wizard’s book, but it’s something I definitely must have!
I decided to wait for a complete edition of The Eternals as well… I’m really looking forward to reading it.
And Pan’s Labyrinth is one of my favourite movies of recent years. I always choke up by the end as well.
I LOVE the Sandman/Dreaming figures!
Carl, what wonderful photos! I think I’m in love with the poppets after seeing the one in the pic with the wine bottle!
Great photography, Carl!
Thanks for the chocolate sauce!
When I saw the first photo of all the statues, Inkheart popped into my head. In that Mo read aloud and characters come out of the books he’s reading.. I felt like you had done that!!! I love the use of your characters in the pictures! I think you should continue it.
*groan* now I have to add yet another book to my every growing list!
I’ve been wanting to read that Eternals series. I wanted to wait till it went to trade.. guess it has!
I couldn’t wait and so did pick up the first couple of issues when they came out. I really enjoyed them, so I’m looking forward to reading the rest.
What a wonderful post. I am eager to hear about your next challenge as Neil Gaiman’s Neverwhere was the book that hooked me into SciFi. That clock is so cool. I’ll bet Mary loved it.
She did, Pat, she was very excited.
I actually bought the first couple of issues as well, Quix which made me realize that I would then want the collection so I decided to stop and wait.
Carl I love the clock. That is a great find and a perfect fit for your home.
Haha – I did the same thing it would seem.
That chocolate sauce sounds great btw.
Great post! Lots of good information spiced with eye candy!
hey, thanks for coming by my blog Carl.. I didn’t know you were into the old astronauts! I’ve read Moonshot and Failure is not an option also, which talks about all of them. Then I read Deke and one on John Glen and have Alan Bean’s book of art…
Oh.. and DeForest was a good friend to me, along with Carolyn his wife… Sorry you missed out on Jimmy’s autograph.. he was a sweetie (having met him numerous times)
Being a fan of science fiction I don’t see how I could not be a fan of the men and women who have traveled, and will eventually be able to travel, into space.
Thanks Mosker, yes, it does work really well in the house. Now to get it on the wall before Mary gets back from her parents!
Cool stuff overload! Brain malfunction…
Wow..I’ve been waiting for that Wizards book to come out. I’m going to have to get my hands on a copy soon. I swore that I wouldn’t buy any more books for awhile, but I just gotta get that one.
I love those antique doorknobs and keys and stars and stuff. Those are incredible. And that clock rocks! Love it.
And Geek Monthly…they finally made a magazine tailored to me š
I loved Rollergirls. I’m still mad they never broadcast the season finale (at least where I live). I watched Pan’s Labyrinth last night and loved it.
It wasn’t just you SQT, they never showed the season finale here either.
Yay! I will soon be a little Poppet Mommy. I can’t wait. Then I too can be a Quixotic wannabe.
Wonderful photos!! I am very jealous of all those new goodies. And I so totally want those poppets!! The other figurines are great, too!
Ooh, Carl! I’ve been meaning to ask you…what kind of camera do you have? I need to get a better camera. Your pictures always look great! I know my camear isn’t all to blame, the photographer has something to do with that too š Maybe I should take some lessons from you as well š
Not hardly, Chris…my camera isn’t the best nor is the operator! I take a TON of pics to get what I am looking for, and while I am happy with most of these, that isn’t always the case.
I have a Kodak EasyShare p850. It has some really nice features and is, indeed, easy, but it has some problems as well. I don’t like the faux-manual focus very much. I would recommend doing some good research before you buy. I would also recommend you do just what you have done with me, ask people whose pics you like what kind of camera they are using.
Honestly though, I think alot of my ‘issues’ with not getting pix to turn out the way that I want is that is has been soooo long since High School photography classes that I have forgotten so much, especially about light. I have to experiment alot to get the kind of lighting I want and then I’m never completely happy.
Both Mosker and Fond of Snape (see blog links) are wonderful photographers who own, I believe, more than one camera and I would definitely hit their sites and ask questions.
Thanks Carl! Great info!
What a great post!! I love the pictures!! You are certainly a big Neil Gaiman fan…as I
am fast becoming. Anansi Boys was great!! Now I’m off to find more Gaiman!
Stephanie, are you saying I’m fat? š
Yes, I am truly a fan of his, both for his work and for the many and varied people his work and his website have exposed me to that I truly love: Lisa Snellings-Clark, Dave McKean, Susanna Clarke…just to name a few.
LOVE the new banner, Carl!
Thanks Quix. The old one was no good and I had been too lazy to change it. This will be nice for awhile.
What a lovely post, Carl – thanks. I hadn’t heard of WIZARDS, so am now looking forward to it with great anticipation. Speaking of Dave McKean – we are lucky enough here in Canterbury to have a restaurant which he did all the menus and outside lettering for, plus a fantastic set of artwork on postcards. He is so talented.
So…..can you steal one of those menus for me? Okay, just kidding….I think. š
I may not be able in good conscience to steal a menu, but I’ll see if I can wangle something when I next eat there. I’ll let you know…
Seriously, I wouldn’t want you to steal a menu from them. I value other people’s possession too much, as well as my own. You could take a picture of them for me, that would be cool.
Picked up a copy of Wizards today and will be cracking into it tonight before I turn in. I love the clock and antiques you picked up in Herman, too.
Oops, I better get reading or you’ll finish the Gaiman story before me!!!