It's my party, I can whine if I want to

So, as I mentioned in the post located here (where the merits of various pies are still being discussed), I made a pie last night. It was a pumpkin pie, and it was made because we have our ATG (our department) office party today (the party last Friday was for ITD, our division). So, why be upset about having yet another party, especially one to which José has promised to bring his amazing tres leches cake (with alcohol)? Because it's in our Cubeland. Which means that for two hours, work can't get done. Period. And this is during a time when I've got a shitload of work to do. With the library party, I left after twenty minutes. The English party continued for two hours after I left. With the ITD party, it was after hours, and we still left early. But this one, you just can't escape.

And worse, it's got a compulsary white elephant gift circle, where everyone draws a number, the lowest number picks a gift, and then the higher numbers can pick other gifts or trade with someone below them (most of the gifts tend to suck ass). It was cute the first time we did it. This is our fourth year doing it. I hope I get a scythe. It could happen.

Bah fucking humbug.

But the pumpkin pie tastes yummy. And the other desserts (as well as Kim's jambalaya) will make me happy and full, I don't doubt.

Also

shadesong and I saw Star Trek: Nemesis (aka Star Trek 10: Attack of the Clones). Was fun. Predictable as hell, but fun. No Matrix Reloaded trailer, though. :-(

Party's Over

The above was said in a New Zealand accent, of course.

Anyway, I'm full. Again. The tres leches cake that Jose made was awesome. Exact quote from him: "Yeah, I doubled the alcohol in the recipe. And no, it isn't cooked out." So yeah, we're all pretty happy now.

The pumpkin pie went over well. I've now got an urge to do more baking again. Found a couple of nifty recipes that I may have to try.

I had a shitty number in the gift exchange. I drew the crappy 2-for-$1 coasters that Mike ended up with last year (and recycled), traded out for the Star Wars Gigapet, and had that stolen in return for a box of crappy looking pecan chocolates.

I forgot one of my favorite traditions -- Alan always buys a bottle of Sweetwater Festive Ale (their limited batch that they release each holiday season) for each of us. A full-size (33.8 oz) bottle. Sweetwater is already one of my favorite breweries, and their Festive Ales are always a delight.

Anyway, am now too full to get anything done. I'm going to take a walk or two around the library, just to try to walk a little of this off.

(no subject)

Having re-read all of Ellis's Wildstorm work in the last few days, I've decided on what, to me, is the defining Authority moment.

It's in Stormwatch.

Volume One, even.

It's in that final issue, right after Rose Tattoo has shot Smoke (or whatever the Shadow-esque character is named), and Jack Hawksmoor grabs her, and, tears streaming from his eyes, he snaps the neck of the best killer in history.

It's the moment that the Authority became possible. The moment when the folks who would eventually found the Authority really questioned what the "bad" guys were doing.

Mind you, as far as I'm concerned, every issue from Ellis's first on Stormwatch through his last on the Authority is one complete run, so this was solidly in the middle of it.

And mind you as well, I consider every issue of The Authorty that comes after #12 to be fanfic. The first four issues, in fact, are Marshall Law fanfics, but eventually, Millar finds enough of a voice to write halfway decent Authority fanfic.

But Ellis. Wow. Much as I love Transmet and Planetary, he had a clean slate for both of those. Taking Stormwatch -- a team so lame, it was written by Ron Marz -- and making it into an amazing series (I still miss Fuji and Farenheit). Now that took talent.


Can anyone else tell that I don't feel like working?