Currently... (18)

"Currently..." updates will be every 2 weeks or so. Going to try to update on Tuesdays when Katy Upperman posts hers.

I found the Currently post at Kate Hart's blog, who got the idea from Amy Lukavics, who found it here. Please join in and link me in the comments if you do!


LOVING

• Um, my new Instagram account! I know, I have a few, but now that we can easily switch between accounts, I thought WHY NOT. My primary IG is still @akangaru, but I now have @threadedpages for my book-related posts aka a bookstagram account (with a fashion-y lens). Hope you'll check it out and give it a follow if you like it. :)

• The Supergirl x the Flash crossover episode! Those 2 darling cinnamon rolls are so adorkable together, I love it. Please more Barry and Kara. It's the simple things people.

• My continuing Nerd Travel blog series with Nerdcoolture. So far, we have posted about WHY we travel and HOW we travel. It's been so fun discussing my travel plans and hearing other people's perspectives on it. I hope you'll join in and stick with us!

• Nerdcoolture: Why Nerds Travel Pt. 1 (Video Games) and Pt. 2 (Alice-inspired: Stories)
• Girl on the Roam: Why Nerds Travel Pt. 1 (Stories)
• Nerdcoolture: How Nerds Travel Pt. 1 (Level Up Your Plans)
• Girl on the Roam: How Nerds Travel Pt. 1 (Preparations)
• Nerdcoolture: How Nerds Travel Pt. 2 (Alice-inspired: Prep)

• An amazing video the Sister caught of Loki being his usual ridiculous puppy self. Will upload it to his IG account soon (@dogdaysofloki, fyi), but until then, have a Flower Bunki for Easter.

READING

A Gathering of Shadows - still reading this because I am procrastinating getting to the end because I don't want to leave Red London yet.

Lucifer Vol. 4 - I'm fast approaching the end of this one too.


WATCHING

Daredevil Season 2 - I think I like Season 1 more in that it kind of felt more focused and Matt was less (as someone put it on Twitter) Harry-Potter-in-the-Order-of-the-Phoenix-ish. BUT the show is still so good (the follow-up to Hallway Fight Scene is another stunner), and Jon Bernthal's Punisher is tremendous - brutal and legitimately scary but also sympathetic. I was a little on the fence about Elektra, but she won me over as the season progressed, especially as the show took pains to turn her original hero's-plot-device type role and made it so that it was about her own character journey. Not to mention, she too appreciates pie and Matt Murdock's hotness. Woman after my own heart, tbh.

The Walking Dead - why. That's really all I have to say about the stress and dread of the last few episodes leading up to next week's season finale. Why.

Room - I don't know how the precious Jacob Tremblay didn't get nominated for a Globe or Oscar.


ANTICIPATING

• The Poe Dameron comic book - because obviously.

• The return of my friend from her vacation + The Force Awakens DVD release! You bet there's going to be a viewing party!

• Seeing my sweet Lydia Kang this week! Eeeee! We have been friends on line for a while, and the only time we have met in real life was at Comic Con 2013. It was a whirlwind.

• Seeing Elizabeth Briggs and Jessica Love IRL this weekend at Elizabeth's launch party!

WISHING

I had more sewing/crafting skills - or barring that more funds - because there is some truly glorious geek fashion out there. And I'm about to cut up some Forever 21 pants as a shortcut to getting a piece I need for a possible closet cosplay in the future. So really, wish me luck.


THINKING ABOUT

An upcoming trip! Oh yes, I'll be off again thanks to affordable airfares!


MAKING ME HAPPY

• Celebrating one of my best friend's birthdays this weekend in almost the same way we did last year - with tacos and lipstick.

• The return of Loki to the Marvel comics universe. I said no more comic books, but I caved and bought 1 issue of the new The Mighty Thor to see how post-Agent of Asgard Loki shakes out against the new (female!) Thor. I regret nothing.

• Speaking of Loki, our pup turned 4! I can't believe we've had him for that long. Of course, we took a bunch of stupid Loki-themed pictures and made him wait for his birthday treats.

• Organizing my make-up. This is not all of it, but it's the stuff I use most. (I might be a little obsessed with Bite Beauty lipsticks...)

• Unexpected and lovely surprises in the mail. I had to stop my OwlCrate subscription briefly (to save some money), but I loved this last box, and my book fairy @Celeste_Pewter sent me a box of wonderful arcs, including Claire Legrand's upcoming MG SOME KIND OF HAPPINESS.

• AND! Jordan of one of my favorite geeky clothing shops, Jordanene, sent me a package with a sneak peek of next month's limited edition shirt. I CAN'T WAIT to share it with you! For now, here's a pic of something else from her shop: Matt the Radar Technician Tee/Tank.

What's your Currently? Let me know what you've been up to in the comments!

Currently... (17)

"Currently..." updates will be every 2 weeks or so. Going to try to update on Tuesdays when Katy Upperman posts hers.

I found the Currently post at Kate Hart's blog, who got the idea from Amy Lukavics, who found it here. Please join in and link me in the comments if you do!


LOVING

• My awesome internet/Twitter friends - like Jessica who sent me a book in a Star Wars bedecked envelope and Tracey who sent me a freaking box of apple cider donuts straight from New England!!

• The Wizarding World in Hollywood!!! OH EM GEE.

So thanks to the Sister's excellent internet sleuthing, we went to Universal Studios during a Wizarding World "technical rehearsal," which is basically a soft opening. And it was AMAZING.


We LOVED the Forbidden Journey ride. It is *so* cool, though I still think it didn't have to have the 3D parts of it (which yes, did make me a little queasy). You never really see pictures of inside the Hogwarts Castle because it's too dark to take good pictures, but going through it as part of the line for Forbidden Journey is kind of magic. You literally walk through the castle - talking portraits and classrooms and all.


This mini-park is tiny though. It only has 2 rides, one of which is a kiddie roller-coaster, and I can see the park getting really crazy packed once it officially opens. Still, it's pretty magic. And frozen butter beer is the ish.

Yeah, and I totally bought a wand - Luna's!

READING

• A Gathering of Shadows
• Lucifer Vol. 3

WATCHING

• Downton Abbey - I'm sadder than I thought I'd be now that it has ended!
• Zootopia - Disney animation is really hitting these movies out of the park. Was not super interested in this outing until I heard that it's deeper than its "cute-talking-animals" premise would have you believe. Bravo Disney for taking a hard look at prejudice and not shying away from discussing it.
• Bam4Ham - this is the hashtag for yesterday's super fun Hamilton cast event/trip to Washington DC and the White House. Part of it was live-streamed by the White House, including 2 songs from the show. If you missed the live-stream (like I did because I was at work, boo), here's an article with links to all the vids: Cast of Hamilton performs at the White House.
• And of course, Lin-Manuel had to do a freestyle rap with POTUS in the Rose Garden.

Wait for it... ⬇️ #Bam4Ham
Posted by The White House on Monday, March 14, 2016

LISTENING

• Lore Podcast - seriously, go listen to it! It's the frightening truth behind fiction!

ANTICIPATING

The series of Geek Travel blog posts I'm working on in collaboration with Marlon of Nerdcoolture.

I don't even know where Marlon is here, but it looks epic. (Photo: Marlon)

Be sure to check out his first post: Why Nerds Travel (Pt 1) and mine will be up tomorrow at Girl on the Roam!


WISHING

For that hour back, darn you Daylight Savings!


THINKING ABOUT

• The truly amazing ways the internet has changed the way we connect with people. Really enjoyed meeting with and talking to these geek bloggers and creators thanks to Tony (@Crazy4ComicCon).

Photo: Tony (Crazy4ComicCon)

• How all our favorites are problematic (in light of the not-so-great material generated by JKR for her Wizarding World universe's Magic in North America - linked to a pretty good overview of the issues), how we should remember we will all misstep from time to time, and how we should strive to keep learning and keep doing better.

MAKING ME HAPPY

• Dinner with the First Draft Live gals. These ladies are so smart and funny. It was a whirlwind of conversation.

• Con Squad Outings - We visited the Descanso Gardens for the Cherry Blossom Festival!

We were not disappointed. Though it was crowded, the flowers were beautiful!

What's your Currently? Let me know what you've been up to in the comments!

Currently... (16)

"Currently..." updates will be every 2 weeks or so. Going to try to update on Tuesdays when Katy Upperman posts hers.

I found the Currently post at Kate Hart's blog, who got the idea from Amy Lukavics, who found it here. Please join in and link me in the comments if you do!

I'm seriously trying to do this every 2 weeks, but it seems like it's monthly. Anyway, lots happened!


LOVING

• The 3 poems I managed to finish this past month, and even the fourth one I started but haven't finished because it's kicking my butt. Thanks to everyone who read for me and discussed specific descriptors with me!

• Hanging out with my favorite people!

• Exploring all the art installations and exhibits around my city.

• Petal Drop LA was magical and whimsical.

A video posted by alice (@akangaru) on Feb 6, 2016 at 2:34pm PST

• Break Bread was provocative in its juxtaposition of the savage and sweet.

• The film costume exhibit at FIDM was wonderful - amazing how much intricate, creative work is done on these clothes.

Imperator Furiosa: badass and now Oscar winner too (for her fierce style).

Cinderella's stepsisters and stepmother.

Edith Cushing and Lady Lucille Sharpe (front)

• This hilarious Kylo Ren tank from Jordandene based on the SNL "Undercover Boss: Starkiller Base" skit. I am obsessed with it and will likely do an OOTD post featuring it.

• Meeting the ridiculously talented V.E. (or Victoria in the YA world) Schwab. She always writes the kind of stories I love to read, and she's such an inspiration because of her drive, perseverance, intelligence, and general graciousness. Basically, she's awesome and I loved her outfit when we met her this weekend on her A Gathering of Shadoes book tour. And I squeed a little to hear that her favorite character in the Shades of Magic series is Rhy because he's mine too, despite the limited page time he had in Book 1. But I always fall in love with side-ish characters.

READING

• LUCIFER VOL. 2
• A GATHERING OF SHADOWS by V.E. Schwab

WATCHING
Lots of movies!

• Sicario - tense and twisty. Good.
• The Martian - best comedy of the year (ha ha). While *not* a comedy, it's good, quirky, and has Gravity-lite moments.
• Spotlight - good, thought provoking, important.
• Zoolander 2- since I enjoyed the ridiculousness of the first, I enjoyed the second, especially Kiefer Sutherland.
• Deadpool - really enjoyed it - irreverent, oddball, meta and from what I know of the character seemed to do good by him.
• Straight Outta Compton - well done and so relevant to current events. Should've gotten more awards season love.

LISTENING

• Alessia Cara's debut.
• The new Of Monster's and Men album.

ANTICIPATING

• Possibly meeting up with author friends in real life in the near future!! Seriously, so excited about this!
• All the amazing March YA releases! Special shout-out to my dear Jessica Love (today IN REAL LIFE is out!!), and I am obviously super excited for April Tucholke's darkly evocative WINK POPPY MIDNIGHT (March 22).

WISHING

For more time to sleep.


THINKING ABOUT

Possibly going to Universal Studios. So excited, by the way, for Wizarding World to open later in the spring!!


MAKING ME HAPPY

• Our interview about fandom with Nerdcoolture went up! Check it out here: Finding Fandom

• My Hamilton anniversary! A little over a year ago, I sat in the Off-Broadway "room where it happened," and my world was never the same. I can't believe it's *only* been about a year! The version of the show I saw had Brian d'Arcy James as the original King George III and One Last Time was "One Last Ride" and included the Whiskey Rebellion. (Hamilton shouting "pay your taxes" at people during the song cracked me up.)

Bought the charm bracelet from BombDotComGeekery. Hamiltine from my sweet friend Justine.

• Traveling! Parents decided they wanted to go to Sedona over President's Day weekend. The last time I had been, it was with my best gals for a bachelorette weekend. This time was obviously different but still so magical! We hiked and went on our first helicopter ride and drove through snow dusted red rock country to get to Flagstaff.

• The highlights of this particular trip were incredible Antelope Canyon and breathtaking Horseshoe Bend, both located in northern Arizona on the Navajo Reservation. I posted tons of pics on Instagram (@akangaru and @girlontheroam), but these are the highlights.

• I also shared a bit of wander-verse inspired by Antelope Canyon on the Girl on the Roam blog called Color Memory.

• Putting together geeky outfits!

I'm wearing a Raven Boys t-shirt, which is kinda hard to see, but I love it! Great for exploring!

• Girl Scout cookies. Thin Mints + Samoas are the best.

What's your Currently?