I’m Crazy, Right? Second Jobs and Going Back

The other day, I wandered into my local comic book store to grab a copy of a TPB that I’ve already purchased (but has been lost in the vortex of TPBs in my apartment) when I saw that they were hiring.

Now, this is the store that I managed back in the day (when I first met Mr. Comic Book Goddess) and I have missed working there (and my customers) since I left my job to go back to school and get my MBA.

And, no, I’m not looking back at it as if it was some simpler time. Retail – even in a place that you love – is damn hard work. It’s not just sitting behind a counter and reading comic books (which most people, usually those who have NEVER worked retail before, think it is). I’m the first to admit that it wasn’t all sunshine and rainbows – there were some growing pains when I first got there – but my bosses (the owners) were amazing and there was something about the job that kept me going back.

So, wish me luck, Dear Readers. I’m going to throw in my resume for their consideration. My availability is extremely limited (weekends only) because of my full-time gig and I know that might be a significant hurdle to my getting rehired but…you won’t know until you try, right?

I know. It sounds crazy that I want to get a second job on the weekends when I’m already working full time just because I miss working at the comic book store. And, despite I know what this will mean in terms of logistics (no more sleeping in, limited time to go out with my friends and husbeast), I’m still willing to give it a try because going back to it means that much to me.

Yes, I am insane.

My Patronus Is….

So, over at a Ravelry board I frequent, someone asked the group what would your Patronus be?

I would love to say that I was something bad ass, like Grumpy Cat’s

imageWhen I asked Mr. Comic Book Goddess what he thought my Patronus would be and he replied that it would be a godless abomination of nature: half socially-awkward penguin (I’m incredibly awkward in social situations) and half baby giraffe (I lack coordination).

socially awkward

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Clearly, I would absolutely be of no help during a Dementor attack.

Whatever You May Celebrate…

…may it be happy.

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Personally, the family and I celebrate Giftmas – the secular, non-religious version of Christmas (our Christ-figure is Santa), though I usually refer to it as Hogswatch (we’re a bunch of rabid Discworld fans). We’re all very spiritual, but are not connected to any religion. Technically, I was Baptized Catholic, but that didn’t really take. In fact, if I had to say that I was anything, I’d be agnostic.


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“But Still Good. Yeah, Still Good.” Meditations on Grief and the Holidays

I sat down to write something that didn’t come out of my rainbow unicorn diary with the heart-shaped lock – or even something comic related – and I came up empty.

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The holidays are always hard for me. They remind me of how much I miss my Grandparents – who I lived with and who raised me. Today, I was out shopping and the grief felt so new and raw and I almost started crying in a mall.

There are always signs of them in my life. The ever present Cardinal – which reminds me so much of my Grandma. And there isn’t a day that I don’t feel my Grandpa next to me.

Perhaps it was hard because the mall was the mall of my childhood – where I used to accompany my Grandpa when he gave blood. It’s a practice that I wish I could continue but sadly, I am and, I fear, will always be too anemic to do so.

It’s not just that I miss them so much that it feels like a weight pressing down on my chest but it’s that I miss that they brought everyone together. After they died, it was fragmented and I, like the child of divorce, suddenly had two Christmases, two birthdays, two of every celebration where before there was only one. It wasn’t just the family drama that tore up the family – though there was plenty of that – it’s that the heart of the family was gone. I don’t think that we could replicate those Christmases from my childhood ever again. My Grandparents are what made them; and without them…well, it wouldn’t be the same.

Don’t get me wrong. I love and treasure the Christmases I have now – my family is little and broken but still good. Yeah, still good. I look forward to making new traditions with Mr. Comic Book Goddess and keeping some of the old. I know that I don’t miss the stress of those Christmases – it was so busy and crazy and I was always happy when it was over.

But, six and seven years in, it surprises me just how palpable the grief still is. Grief is a real bitch. You never get over it, but the hurt eases and you put it somewhere just outside of your consciousness and you let it make you a stronger person and you go on with your life. But then, you’re reminded that the grief, while it may have changed momentarily, is still there. That it never goes away.

Sure, it doesn’t hurt as much as when the grief was still new – that would be entirely it’s own level of Hell – and sometimes, you can manage a sad smile at whatever evoked the response in you. But, as with today, it can hit you and shake you to your very core.

…and it still fucking sucks.

Photo of the Day: President Obama gets stuck in Spider-Man’s web at the White House!

Earlier today, President Barack Obama’s social media staff posted the following photo to his Facebook page.

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The photo shows the President having a bit of fun with the pint-sized web-slinger, who’s believed to be the son of one of his staff members. The photo has gone viral and it melted my Grinch-like heart. Which is why I’m sharing it here.

It also demonstrates that Obama is five hundred shades of awesome.

LLLLLLLLLLADIES.

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I shamelessly stole this from the Tumblr of Gail Simone, who had this to say:

Here is a bunch of fake nerds, oh, wait, I meant to say THE MOST AWESOME CHICKS EVER SO AWESOME THEY WILL BURN YOUR DAMN FOOL EYES OUT OF YOUR FACE IF YOU CALL THEM FAKE NERDS.

Ahem.

It might be hard to see, but they are all symbolizing a color of the Lanterns, with the great NerdyBird taking the classic green.

The awesome it burns! I am crushing so hard on each of the ladies in this photo. Well done!

tumblr_m7ar9cg04W1qcs7kpEdited to Add: The title is in reference to this Twilight RiffTrax quote.

Amazing!

This came across my Tumblr dashboard yesterday and words cannot describe just how much I absolutely adore Des Taylor’s art (obligatory link to his blog).

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I don’t know what it is about the image that gets me. The slightly retro pinup look of Lois (which really reminds me of Hildy from His Girl Friday), the befuddled innocence of Clark – the look of a man who totally believes in Santa in a super sexy way. It’s absolutely STUNNING art.