Back to the grind

I got back to Calgary yesterday, that would the 27th, and all is good.  The drive wasn't bad, still boring, but not as busy as I was expecting.  I drove the north route and the park did get a little bit of snow which had melted off the roads making them wet.  My dirty car is now filthy, it looks like a big brown turd driving down the road.  Since I refuse to wash my car, it'll probably stay that way until spring when it rains.

Cranbrook was okay, got to see Cam which was cool.  He even caved in and said he would eat at Arby's, but I let him off the hook this time.  We hit all the hot Boxing Day sales and I bought X-Men: First Class on Blu-ray from Superstore and Jiffy Pop from LW.  That's pretty much all that happened other than I got socks for Christmas for the 36th year in a row.

Now that I'm back I went into work this morning to see I was actually supposed to work Tuesday and have Wednesday off.  The schedule got changed, but nobody told me.  This is one of the reasons I don't have a cell phone.  Anyway, I still worked today and now have to work 5am to 2pm the next three days in a row.  I'm not sure if you know this, but five in the morning is early!!  Of course I have to get up at 4am, and I'm already exhausted just thinking about it.  I'm going to try to go to bed early, but I'm not used to trying to sleep at like 8:30pm.  That's just weird.

I meant to post this picture with December 24th entry of the Lego advent calendar, but I forgot to take the picture.  It's all the leftover pieces!

Sock it to me

What did everyone get for Christmas?  Any cool toys?  I got a new grill piece and shiny new emblem on my car.  Also I got some socks.

Two four

It seems like I just started the Lego Star Wars advent calendar, but now it's already December 24th, Christmas Eve.  As I predicted Santa Yoda was the final toy.

Santa Yoda knows who's been naughty and who's been nice. 

Where Chewie and the Clone Trooper couldn't be bothered to be packaged with some accessories, Santa Yoda comes with his walking stick as well as a backpack full of gifts.  Just by looking at those gifts they must be books or boxes of chocolate.  Those are lazy gifts Santa Yoda!

And there you have the entire contents of the advent calendar.  I didn't actually bring it back to Cranbrook with me, so cheated and opened the last day early, so I could take pictures.  The Legos are arranged on the chair in my room with t-shirts from my laundry hamper as back/dropcloths.  Maybe next year I will plan a little more in advance for nicer pictures, but probably not.  Merry X-Mas!!

23

Today's Lego kit was a Christmas tree which is kinda to be expected, but it did surprise me.  Silly me, I was expecting something Star Wars related.

In other non-Lego related news I am now back in Cranbrook.  The drive back was boring as always.  There were more cars on the road than usual, but not as many as I was expecting.  It was pretty mellow.  Before I left I got some mail in the form of my free t-shirts from Post.  They are a little more XL than I was hoping for, so I hope my dad likes Honeycomb and Alpha Bits.  Merry Christmas Dad!

22

I'm early today and in today's door was the A-Wing.  Only two days left!

21

The Millennium Falcon!  For something so small and made up of so few Lego pieces they got it looking spot on.  I just hope they fixed the hyperdrive.

20

Yesterday was a TIE Pilot, so it makes sense that today would be a TIE Fighter.

Isn't it cute?

Here is another picture this time with it's bigger brother, a non-Lego Japanese 1/144th scale version.  The Japanese ship is pretty cool as it's pretty detailed for it's size.  The hatch on the top opens and it comes with a display stand that has the ship specs on it.  Japanese toys are awesome.  Sayonara!

19

Today's toy was another minifigure, but it was a good one, a TIE pilot.

Now there are only five days left in the calendar, so it's almost done, but it feels like I just started.  On the box it shows an A-Wing, TIE Fighter, and the Millennium Falcon which haven't even show up yet.  I already stated/guessed that the Santa Yoda would be on the 24th.  Now we know 4 of the next 5 toys we'll be getting, but what will be the 5th?  Will it be good or lame?  Tune in to find out!

18

I will make this quick because I have to get up early tomorrow morning for work, so I want to go to sleep!  Sleep is good.  Anyway, it's a Y-Wing!!

Merry X-Mas!!

Are you tired of Lego yet?  Well too bad because here is some more of it!  I got a Christmas tree in the form of a Lego holiday kit from the Lego Store.  Around different times/seasons of the year they do different themed kits.  At Halloween they had a bat and spider kit, so it's only natural that at Christmas there is a Christmas tree kit.

It doesn't take up much room and it doesn't leave needles on the carpet.  Putting it up and taking it down is a snap, but there isn't much room under it for gifts.  I plan on putting the instructions and all the pieces into a Ziploc bag after Christmas, so I will reuse it in the future.  Save a tree!

Looks like I'll heading back to Cranbrook on Dec 23rd for a few days and head back to Calgary on Dec 27th.  It sucks because now I'm working nine days in a row at the busiest time of year before I get to drive back to BC.  Cam says he'll be around, so hopefully I'll get to see him.

Now for something completely different!  I always meant to do a post about the two comics that are pictured in the background of the Christmas tree picture, Leave it to PET! and Detroit Metal City.  They are both Japanese and are pretty funny, although totally different.  Leave it to PET! is actually for kids and is about a young boy who recycles a plastic drink bottle only to have it return as helper robot.  Of course the robot is always there it help him, but most of the time doesn't actually succeed or just makes things worse.  There series is only four volumes, but I thought the first two books were the best.  They're full of short stories that are actually pretty funny.   Other recycled robot characters show up to "help" out too.  I should have an army of recycled Diet Pepsi bottles.

Detroit Metal City is definitely NOT for kids.  It's a music comedy about a shy musician who moved to Tokyo in order to become a pop star.  Unfortunately, it doesn't go so well and he ends up being the front man for the heavy metal band, DMC aka Detroit Metal City and like KISS the band dress up in costumes and make-up when performing.  It's very funny and the main character gets into all sorts of crazy situations as his alter ego Johannes Krauser II and the two very different personalities.  Sometimes it seems be making fun of the heavy metal genre, but I think it's mostly just having fun with it.  This is one series to check out.  I was originally a manga, then a anime and then a live action movie.  The books are out here, the anime series still hasn't been released, but the movie is out.  I haven't see it yet, but I want to.

Go to your local public library and ask about these two titles!

17

Today's Lego kit wasn't a vehicle, droid, monster, minifigure or even a barrel, but it was pretty close.

It's a weapon rack!  It's like for coats, but instead you put weapons on it.  This one holds a lightsaber, two blasters and some binocular things.  It's cool it comes with the nifty accessories, but I don't remember seeing it in any of the movies.  Since it's in the Advent Calendar maybe it was featured in the Star Wars Holiday Special?  Watching the Holiday Special once was enough for me, I'm not going back to try and spot it.  Life Day my ass.

16

Another minifigure as today's Lego kit, a Clone Trooper with no gun.  This guy should totally have a gun as he's pretty useless without one.  What Clone Trooper doesn't use a blaster?  Does he work in an office?  Maybe he's in HR?

15

Well, we had a decent run of some "good" Star Wars kits from the Lego calendar, but today it's back to the new Star Wars stuff.

This one isn't that bad, unlike the picture.  I'm pretty sure it's a Republic troop transport.  I don't remember the green thing on there in the movies though.  Then again I've only seen the newer Star Wars movies once.

14

Behinds today's door on the advent calendar was the mouse droid aka MSE-series general purpose droid.  I think it's actually neat, way better than the weird monster thing from December 3rd.  As with most kits this one came with some extra parts which turned out to be a good thing.

I had dumped the little baggie out on my bed and started putting it together and I went to pick up one of the "wheels" and my finger caught the edge of it sending it flying into the air and it landed behind my dresser.  I currently have all my Christmas gifts piled up in front of my dresser, so there was no way I was going to move all that just for some little Lego piece.  Luckily, there was an extra wheel included.  It's not really a wheel as it doesn't actually turn, it's more like a peg.  Chewie can fix that.

PMPeed

Time for an unrelated Lego blog post that I've been meaning to do for a while now.  You'll remember I wrote about the media player I got for my birthday and how I broke it in less than a week.  I finally got around to getting a replacement for it.  This turned out to be more difficult than I thought because every time I picked out a brand and model I wanted, it was no longer in stock.  I ordered it from a Chinese website called Ownta and they liked to have items on their website listed as "In Stock" when they were out of stock or discontinued.

I ordered two personal media players, a Ramos T11 Pro and an Ainol V8000 HDS.  The plan was to keep one for myself and give one to Matt as a Christmas gift.  They both had HDMI out which is what I wanted, but when I received them the Ainol didn't have HDMI out, but only a RBG composite video out.  Dammit.  I tried the HDMI on the Ramos and it looks pretty crappy and the TV out on the Ainol doesn't even work, although the sound does.   I was really hoping the HDMI would work just so I could plug it into my TV and watch videos off the player.  Oh well.

Other than that they both work fine, playing videos and music.  I've tried both just to see which one is better.  The Ainol loads video files faster than the Ramos, but they both play just as good.  Both models are able to play multiple video and audio formats as well as image files and .txt files.   Also, both units have a 5" touch screen with a resolution of 800 x 480.  And both hold 8 GB, but have a micro SD slot for up to 16GB.  I gotta say, why do micro SD cards have to be so small?  They are too small!  I already broke one. :-(

I'm keeping the Ramos T11 Pro for myself and giving Matt the Ainol V8000 HDS.  The touch screen is bit too finicky on the Ramos, so I'll give the Matt the Ainol which is a little more responsive.  The touch screen works better on the Ramos if you are using a stylus or at least something pointy.  My fingers are too fat and pudgy I guess.  I usually take mine to work when I work a 9 hour shift so I can watch it on my lunch and my other breaks.  I've already finished watched Kamen Rider OOO (all 48 episodes) and am now working on Kamen Rider Decade.  It beats socializing with my co-workers.

Day 13

I'm going to start putting the date in numerical format instead of spelling them, so as to avoid any spelling mistakes.  I don't want to upset anybody.  You know who you are.  Anyway, today's set was another minifigure in the form of a black R2 unit.

He's black, so you he's a total bad ass and way cool.  Either that or he's evil, but I don't think he's evil because he doesn't have a goatee.  Anybody know what this unit's designation is?  I tried to look it up, but gave up after 30 seconds.  It should be R2-FU, now that's bad ass.

Twelfth

Since it snowed it's only fitting that behind December 12's door on the advent calendar is a Rebel snow speeder.

 Is that really how you spell "twelfth"?  I don't know, but it sure looks weird.

Eleventh

Behind December 11's door is another minifigure.  It's a droid dude and since he's blue I'm guessing he's a commander or something.

The most pieces for a minifigure yet, this could get complicated.

Or not.  Turns out there were a lot of pieces because he came with an extra set of arms.  How come he comes with a blaster, but the other figures come with nothing?  Instead of extra arms, why not throw in an extra blaster?

I know I had originally said that I would be doing regular blog posts in addition to the daily Lego advent calendar posts, but that quite hasn't been happening.  Anyway, I'll get you caught up on what's been going on lately.

First I finished my Christmas shopping!  This is both good and bad.  It's good because I'm freakin' done, but bad because I'm already seeing stuff I bought on sale for cheaper than I paid for it.  Dammit.  All that is left is to wrap gifts which is made much easier by a trip to the dollar store for some gift bags.  I can only wrap small things if they are rectangular shaped, anything big or a weird shape and it turns out all sloppy and ugly.  The gift bag is the lazy man's way of wrapping presents, just drop it inside and you're done.

This afternoon me and Cody went and watched The Muppets which was pretty good.  I'm not a fan of songs in movies, but being as how this was a Muppet movie AND a Disney movie there were a few of them.  The movie itself was pretty funny and you don't have to be a little kid to enjoy it, although the theatre was packed with them.  Before The Muppets was a Toy Story short that was pretty funny.  It has a Condorman reference in it!  You do worse and end up watching the new Twilight movie, although there were a LOT of chicks going in to see it.

We went to the movies even though it snowed a bunch.  It's snowing, but the temperature is just barely above freezing so the snow is heavy and packs down to get all slippery.  Plus soon as there is snow on the ground and you can't see the road lines or parking grids in the parking lot, it's nuts.  People are parking all over the place and parking sideways and angle parking in straight stalls, they're all a bunch of idiots.  I just don't want to move my car and give up my spot that is all notched out in the snow bank.

Day X

Opening today's tenth door on the advent calendar reveals a Lambda-class T-4a shuttle.  You'll all recognize it as the same type of shuttle as the Tydirium shuttle that was used to infiltrate Endor in ROTJ.  Going back the old school PC game X-Wing, I blew up many of these.

HOLY. CRAP.

Watch this video and be amazed.  I don't even know how the hell he pulled that off.  I can't fly at all, so that guy is like a god.  The A-Team music was a nice touch.

PS  ~ If it didn't work you can check it out on YouTube here.

Nineth

Today's kit was a X-Wing fighter, but the colour scheme is weird.  It's white instead of grey, so maybe it's Clone Wars era or whatever.  It's still better than barrel.  I do like how they put a R2 unit in it.  Speaking of which I got an extra R2 in the leftover pieces.

R2?

Eighth

Rebel pilot, yeeeeaaaaahhh.  He doesn't have an accessory though, but I guess since he's a pilot a ship would be his accessory.  I don't think I'll find one his size in the advent calendar.

Seventh

I open December 7th's door on the Star Wars Lego advent calendar to find the lamest toy yet, a barrel!  Really, a barrel?!

I've seen all the Star Wars movies, the Ewok TV movies and even the Star Wars Holiday special, but I don't remember seeing that barrel in any of them.  Yes, it does have an wrench, an axe, and Chewie's missing bowcaster, but it's still a barrel.  What's with the axe?  They didn't use axes in Star Wars and it they did it would be a laser axe.  I could give the bowcaster to Chewie, but then the barrel set would be incomplete and I just can't do that.  I can't believe they are bringing out the lame sets this early, it's only Dec 7th!

Laugh it up fuzzball.

Day six in the Lego Star Wars advent calendar is another "oldie, but a goodie" in the form of a Chewbacca min figure.

Chewie was even easier to put together than the other mini figure as he was a whopping three pieces.  Even though he's completely assembled he still doesn't look quite right.  Maybe it's because he has no accessory?  Where is his bowcaster?

On the front of the box it shows Chewie with bowcaster in hand, so where is it?  This is false advertising!

But on another picture on the side of the box it shows Chewie with no accessory.  Make up your mind Lego!  Chewie SHOULD come with a blaster or at least a hydrospanner for fixing the hyperdrive on the Millenium Falcon, it what everyone expects.  Fail.

Fifth

Finally, all that complaining has finally paid off as the advent calendar has given me something cool from the good Star Wars movies.

Boba Fett's Slave II!!  It looks pretty cool and the "wings" pivot too.  I wonder if they'll get lazy and have a Slave I in there just with different coloured pieces?  That's what I would do.

Leftovers!

Fourth

It must be getting closer to Christmas because it's another entry in the Lego Star Wars advent calendar and it snowed.  I left work yesterday and it was a blizzard outside.  I went on break about 3:30 pm and it was all fine outside and then I left at 5 pm and it was crazy outside.  It was snowing big fat heavy snowflakes plus the wind was blowing pretty hard, so when you went outside you were getting smacked in the face with huge snowflakes.  It snowed about 5 or six inches overnight, but the weather finally cleared up this afternoon.  Of course the snow does nothing to deter people from shopping.  Don't they have anything better to do?

December 4th wasn't any kinder in terms of weather or Lego calendar toys.  Today revealed yet another vehicle from the newer Star Wars saga.

I have no idea what it's called, but it's some Separatist Army thing from the Clone Wars.  I think you can drive one and blow up stuff in the Star Wars Battlefront game on the Geonosis level.  The front of the box of the advent calendar shows A-Wings and Tie Fighters and I want to know when I get to put those together!

More left over pieces.  Am I even doing this right?!

Third

So it's the third day in a row I've opened the door on Lego advent calendar to be greeted by something totally not cool.  I'm not even sure what I got, but it's one of these.

I think it's not a vehicle just because it has claws, they usually have wheels or treads.  I'm just guessing but I think it's one of the monster things from the end of Attack of the Clones right before the big battle royale.  Anyway, it's lame though whatever it is.  December 4th had better bring something cool.

And I got an extra toe nail!

Second

It's a new day and time to see what the Star Wars advent calendar has in store.  Once you open up the front flap the goodies doors are behind it, but it also makes a mini poster of Lego ships in battle.

December 2nd's toy was pretty easy and I guarantee I did not screw it up.  Also, no missing pieces today.

It's just a mini figure and only four pieces.  I can't believe they still make you put a figure like this together.  I was expecting any figures to be pre-assembled.   You feel a real sense of accomplishment putting four pieces of Lego together.  I did it!  I can do anything!

Another let down as it's just some Trade Federation(?) dude from the new Star Wars films.  How about some stuff from the classic (ie. good!) Star Wars movies?

I did go to Zellers today and managed to get myself a SpongeBob Squarepants advent calendar.  I got to eat two chocolates, yesterday and today.  I remember that back in the day the 25th would be a double doored extra large chocolate.   These chocolates seem smaller and no XL sized chocolate for Christmas.  I guess they still use the same about of chocolate, but in smaller portions to stretch it out all the way until New Year's Day.

The Final Countdown

It is December 1st and the countdown until Christmas has begun.  Has everyone started their holiday shopping yet?  One good thing about being a miserable loner is that you don't have many gifts to buy at X-mas.  Despite that it's always good to have something to remind you of the dwindling shopping days left until Christmas.  That's why Jesus invented the Advent Calendar.

I was going to buy one from work, but all we had were lame cheapo ones.  I want a licensed advent calendar like Spider-Man for two reason.  First reason is that Spider-Man is cool, and the second is that the licensed advent calendars go all the way until New Year's Day.  That is 32 days of chocolate!  I'll go check out Zellers or Wal-Mart and hopefully they'll still have some left.

I'm not sure if you knew this, but advent calendars aren't just for chocolate anymore.  They're also for Lego and Star Wars, more importantly, LEGO STAR WARS!

I picked this up at the Lego Store in Chinook Mall, but this can also be found at Toys 'R Us and maybe Wal-Mart.   I hope you guys aren't busy because you'll be tuning in here everyday until Christmas to see what Lego surprise awaits.

The calendar even comes with a cool Santa Yoda.  I'm going to take a wild guess and say he will be on the 25th.  I'm getting ahead of myself, as we're only on the 1st.  Let's see what is behind the calendar door for today.

What is that?!  It looks like some lame spaceship, so I'm assuming it must be from one of the newer Star Wars movies.  I thought it looked funny and maybe I put it together wrong, but being how it's so small and has so few pieces, how could I screw it up?

Yeah, that LOOKS like what I did.

Somehow with a kit that small I still managed to have two extra let over pieces?  I must've messed it up.  We're off to a great start.  Be sure to check in to see how I mess up other kits in the coming weeks.  Don't worry I will be doing regular posts in addition to the daily Star Wars advent calendar ones.  I should be getting paid for this...