In which I Spaz while wearing a Harry Potter themed sweatshirt...

So, I was perusing the interwebs the other day and found this interesting article comparing women in main stream television shows vs women in science fiction. Sure there are flaws with it but, over all, I find it fascinating. Before you think I am going off on a feminist rant I'll have you know that I am not a feminist. I just feel that strong female role models are few and far between now-a-days, especially when I hear young girls talking about 'Snooki' and the like as role models.

I also find it amazing that young girls are now becoming obsessed with their weight and their image. (And before you yell at me and tell me that it's boys as well I have no doubt about that but I can only tackle one thing at a time.) Now that I'm teaching I see it on a daily basis.

But this has become far too serious for me on a Friday night. I'm sitting in front of the heater, wearing my brand new sweatshirt that looks like this. (It's awesomesauce). I'm contemplating doing some 'exercise' on the Wii which pretty much means that I want to spaz out and pretend I have skills to dance. Actually, I can dance relatively well. At least I don't look like someone suffering a series of electric shocks though I have been known to pull out the Carlton dance every so often.

Come on, admit it. If you are a child of the 80s or 90s you know this dance. And, because this post couldn't possibly get any more strange I shall add this just for memories sake.

I shall leave you now since it is Friday and, if this post hasn't already convinced you, I have gone a little kooky.

Have a super duper awesome weekend every single one of you!

SDCC = Geek Mecca?

As I type this I am sitting in the back of the fish and chip shop that I live behind and feeling that lovely emotion that is jealousy laced with a heavy coat of envy. You see Comic Con has started in San Diego and, once again, I am not there. I make plans at the end of each July to make my way over to this amazing event that I have heard so much about but so far my plans have fallen flatter than a pancake on Shrove Tuesday.

It is around this time every year where I proclaim to anyone who will listen that I will be going to next year's Comic Con, come hell or high water. Just to let you know I have been saying this for the last five years and the only conventions I have managed to attend have been the ones in London. I've attended them twice and they were a blast. I got to have my photo taken with a Dalek and I got Danny Trejo's autograph. For those of you who don't know who he is check out this awesome trailer:

And, in real life, he is very eloquent and actually really interesting to listen to. His has some great stories to tell and has a great sense of humour.

Anyway, although I have been to that convention every geek worth their salt wants to attend the San Diego Comic Con. It is the stuff legends are made of and one of the few places where you can really let your geek flag fly higher than ever. Four days of pure insanity after which many return to their 'humdrum' lives and hang up the amazing cosplay outfits they spent a year working on before donning the suits or general business attire that they are subjected to for the rest of the year.

Because I have never been I could be viewing this through the hazy dream lenses that many of us wear in our everyday lives but I know that it is a place where like minded people can get together and enjoy their fandoms with others who also share the same interests. It's a place where you can argue the finer points of Klingon grammar or argue over who shot first.* It's a place where you wouldn't bat an eyelid as the Joker and Batman sat down together to grab a bite to eat. Basically, in my mind, it is pure heaven, even taking into account the BO and other hygiene issues that arrive when you have so many people squashed together in one place.

So, I feel that I can proclaim that SDCC is a form of mecca for those who, like myself, enjoy things a little too enthusiastically. And, as I sit here writing this, a small plan is forming in my mind. It involves costumes, travel and me making a fool out of myself - so far pretty normal, right? My only problem is money. There is the little thing called responsibility but I don't have kids or any form of dependents.

The only question is - which costume?

I'll leave you with this which I stumbled across yesterday...Happy Friday all

*Han did - obviously!

That's Miss* to you...

I have, now, officially finished my old job and have begun intergrating myself at the school where I will be terrorising...ahem...teaching young minds and moulding them for the future.

I am of two minds at this career choice at present. My main state is one of fear mixed with a dollop of excitement. (Actually, flip that, reverse it.) I am excited to see how I do and whether I am one of those teachers that does a good job at actually helping her students, you know. As long as I'm not one of those "I'm gonna yell at you until either you comply to my will or I pass out..." type of teacher.

On the other hand, I'm terrified that I will break children. Not as in physically break cause, let's face it, I'm weaker than non-alcoholic beer. But I don't want to traumatise too many children. I'm thinking minimum causalities are a must, if you get my ramblings. I just remember my days at high school and I don't want to be like the teachers that I hated.

On a random train of thought - I now find myself having to acquire semi-casual attire as I make the transition from student/bookseller into teacher. Whereas the bookstore had a uniform of black and school just had any old clothes you like teaching has slightly different standards. So I must, reluctantly, put away the witty tee's with allusions to Dr Who, BSG and surviving the zombie apocalypse and start shopping for clothes that don't reveal too much cleavage** or tattoos, not that I have many of those.

I'm still going to keep my converse sneakers, though. My feet maybe small but they're fat little bastards and all those fancy schmancy women's shoes hurt them.

I have a couple of questions for you, dear readers, to make this blog more interactive...and because I'm lazy today.

Question 1: What was/is your favourite subject at high school?
Question 2: What do/did teachers do to make learning more fun for you?

*Actually it's Ms but it looks weird out of context
** Apparently boys are distracted by cleavage...who knew.