Comic books and moving

Justice_League_by_Laurie_B_by_ArtofLaurieB — Justice League fan art

Since new comic books are typically sold on Wednesdays, now’s a good time to look at how I’m trying to thin out my collections before my upcoming move from Needham Heights to Waltham, Massachusetts. Here’s what I’ve given away so far:

–Avengers, Fantastic Four, X-Men: Donated two short boxes to the local public library, as well as the equivalent of one magazine box of Cinefastique, Ellery Queen, and Renaissance issues (I still have four magazine boxes of other genre mags.)

–Batman/Nightwing: Paul J. is storing one long box, as well as two magazine boxes of Dragon and other tabletop RPG magazines.

–Birds of Prey: One short box to Alex J. (I still have more of this title.)

–DC Animated — Batman, Justice League: Gave one short box to nephew Joshua L.

–Green Lantern, assorted DC/Marvel crossovers: One long box, one short box to Ron J.K.

–Spider-Man, Superman, and assorted Marvel comics: Gave one long box to nephew David W.

–Teen Titans/Young Justice/Outsiders: Gave one long box to David W., one short box to James B.

Here’s what I plan to give to David I.S. in Rochester, New York, in addition to the four or so boxes of mine he’s already storing:

–Conan/Red Sonja and other fantasy titles, two short boxes

–Justice Society, limited run, and selected DC titles, one short box

-modern alternative/indie titles, one short box (in addition to what you already have)

-pulp/pinup, two short boxes

–Star Trek, Star Wars, and other science fiction, two short boxes

–Superman, one short box (plus Smallville magazines)

–titles on loan from Dave, including “Buffyverse,” Farscape, and indies — two short boxes

After all this, I’ll still have a dozen or so short boxes (mostly DC and some graphic novels/trade paperbacks) and a few magazine boxes. That’s two metal shelves’ worth, but that should be manageable in our new apartment. Here are the gaming books I’ve sold so far:

>>Paul J., holding:

-Book of Riddles

-box of large minis

-Pathfinder Bonus Bestiary

-Pathfinder: Book of the Damned 3

-Pathfinder Campaign Setting: Lands of the Linnorm Kings

-Pathfinder Campaign Setting: Pathfinder Society Field Guide

-Pathfinder Chronicles: Guide to the River Kingdoms

>>Beruk A.: Rifts: Mercenaries, Pantheons of the Megaverse (returned)

>>Byron V.O. (plus Lego “Star Wars” sets with Ben P.S.):

-D20 Cavalier’s Handbook

-D20 Quintessential Ranger

-D20 Stargate SG1 RPG

-Trivial Pursuit: Star Wars edition

>>Brian W.:

-box of cardstock buildings

-FATE 3e Diaspora (“hard” science fiction)

-FATE Spirit of the Century (returned)

>>James B.: D20 Modern: Pocket Handbook, D20 Past (c/o Brian W.)

>>Ken G., AD&D2:

-The Complete Bard’s Handbook

-The Complete Druid’s Handbook

-The Complete Priest’s Handbook

>>Sara F. & Josh C.:

-D6 Fantasy, Space

-D6 Star Wars, Second Edition, and Trilogy Sourcebook

-Fudge, 10th anniversary edition

-Lamentations of the Flame Princess: Grindhouse Edition boxed set and Vornheim City Guide (weird fantasy)

-mats, reversible hex/square, wet-erase, and markers

-Shard: Basic Compendium (anthropomorphic fantasy)

-space heater, electronic

>>Bruce K.:

-D20 Arms & Armor

-D20 Dead Man’s Chest

-D20 Enchanted Locations: Crypts & Tombs

-D20 Pirates!

-Dungeon Tiles: Arcane Corridors, Streets of Shadow

-Sword & Sorcery: Glades of Death (D20 wilderness)

-Wizards Presents: Races and Classes (D&D4e)

-Wizards Presents: Worlds and Monsters (D&D4e)

>>Rich C.G.:

-Amber Diceless Role-Playing, Shadow Knight; plus complete Zelazny book (high fantasy)

-Castles & Crusades: Player’s Handbook, Monsters & Treasure

-D20 Mutants & Masterminds, 2nd Ed.: Instant Superheroes

-Mouse Guard: Boxed Set

-Pathfinder: Beginner’s Boxed Set

-Savage Worlds: Pocket Edition

I’m trying to unload about a third of my collections — close to what I lost in the basement floods of 2005, but less traumatically random. Here’s what’s still for sale:

-air conditioner, vertical window unit (14.5”h x 20.5”w x 23.5”d), $40

-boom box, with dual tape deck, $10

-cabinet with shelves, 5-ft. high, plastic, $20

-carpets, dark green, 9×12-ft., $20 each (must wait until Feb. 25)

-CD tower, solid wood, $20

-chairs, folding and beach/lawn, $10 each

-chicken wire, 20-ft. roll, $10

-computer desk, with keyboard tray and wheels, $25

-entertainment center/TV cabinet with storage, wheels, fits 26″ CRT, $40

-fans, 2 floor, $5

-grill, George Foreman, hardly used, $10

-keyboard, USB, $5

-kitchen cart, solid wood butcher block, $20

-rakes and other garden tools, hoses, $5 each

-stereo, Aiwa, including 3-CD changer and dual-deck tape player, $40

-table/child’s desk, very solid but some scuffs, 36″ x 23″ x 22″ high, $30

-tables, two 8-ft. long folding, plastic, $40 each

-television, 26-in., best offer

-VHS tape storage drawers

And I’ve got more than 80 cubic-foot boxes yet to pack! Wish me luck, and let me know if you’re interested in anything….

On the move again, 2012 edition

I haven’t been able to blog as often as I’d like lately because I’ve been unusually busy. My employer’s annual meetings went smoothly, genre television and my three gaming groups have resumed since the holidays, and Janice and I will have to move soon.

We’ve lived in Needham Heights, Massachusetts, for about nine years, longer than we’ve lived together anywhere else. Janice and I like the residential neighborhoods, nearby restaurants, and the easy access to highways. Our rent hasn’t gone up during that time, and our combined salaries aren’t enough to buy a comparable home in the area.

However, Janice’s current commute by train to work in Kendall Square in Cambridge, Mass., has taken an hour and a half each way every day. We’ve also been responsible for things like mowing the lawn, shoveling snow, and various repairs. In addition, we had to move between duplexes within Needham in 2006 after our basement flooded because of development up the hill.

In the past few weeks, we’ve noticed that our townhouse’s water heater has been leaking. We contacted our landlord, who said he’d prefer to replace it when renovating the entire unit rather than fix it while we’re still here. We’ve had other problems with plumbing and heating before.

Our lease doesn’t expire until the end of April, but since we now have to move anyway because of the renovation and Janice’s commute, we decided to do it sooner rather than later. Janice and I spent the past few days looking at potential apartments to move to by the start of March.

Janice and I had the option of moving to yet another townhouse in Needham owned by the same landlord, but it was a little run down and wouldn’t help Janice’s commute. Still, it was in a familiar neighborhood and comparable in rent and space to our current place, which has three bedrooms and a full basement. It was our backup.

Janice and I considered other sites in Newton, West Roxbury, Watertown, and Arlington. We’ve applied for a place in Waltham, Mass., about equidistant from Janice’s and my jobs. We’ll likely lose some space, including our basement, which is where we’ve stored numerous boxes of files, comic books, decorations, and toys. It’s also where I’ve hosted and run role-playing sessions.

We’ll be paying quite a bit more per month, but I hope that the modern amenities and better service will be worth it. I’ll report more once our lease is signed. In the next few weeks, I’ll be busy with packing and trying to sell extra appliances, books, and furniture.

We’ll have to hire movers, because with 80+ boxes of books last time, we can’t impose on friends and family in the middle of (a delayed) winter. Thanks in advance for your good wishes!

Catching up from Christmas

I hope that all your holidays were happy and that you have a healthy and Happy New Year! Janice and I drove in my new car to her family in Upstate New York for Christmas. The capacious Honda Fit served us well, even if it got its first ding (in the windshield). Fortunately, the weather was mild and traffic was relatively light, even if children and skiers were disappointed by the lack of a white Christmas.

Among other things, I received more reference books on Arthurian lore, some cool Star Wars and gamer garb, food baskets, and a toaster oven. As usual, we also ate very well, caught up on Disney/Pixar movies, and played with my nephews’ superhero action figures and Lego sets. My thoughts are with ill relatives and friends.

Unlike several of my friends, I was busy with work in the week between Christmas and New Year’s, so I was unable to post to this blog. However, I don’t foresee any shortage of genre entertainment, food and travel, or politics to talk about in 2012!

In between work and the holidays, Janice and I ate at our usual haunts: Wild Willy’s Burgers, Acropolis, Subway, Chipotle, and the Ninety Nine (I’ll have to work it all off). I met fellow role-players Beruk A., Brian W., and James B. for lunch in Central Square, Cambridge, as well as fellow blogger Thomas K.Y. with his brother Tony and girlfriend Kai-Yin at Elephant Walk in Waltham, Massachusetts. I’ll look more at recent movies, comic books, and games in upcoming posts.

For New Year’s Eve, Janice and I walked to the First Night events in Needham, Mass. We enjoyed listening to the West Newton Ceili Band, Melodius Funk, and comedian John Colliton. In addition, we saw the newly renovated town hall, melting ice sculpture, and the colorful Quinobequin Quilters show.

This morning, Janice and I watched the annual Rose Parade, and we’ll be taking down our decorations as the holidays wind down. I hope that the global economy improves, people strive to peacefully overcome their differences, and to find time for all my friends and interests!

Santa’s sleigh

On Saturday, 10 December 2011, Janice’s parents, her youngest sister Melinda, and Melinda’s children Amanda and Joshua came over to celebrate Janice’s birthday and to bake holiday cookies.

I took my nephew Josh to New England Comics and Newbury Comics in Norwood, Massachusetts. I later took Josh and Amanda to a talk about birds of prey at the local library, and the family had dinner together at Mick Morgan’s pub. We’ll be seeing them around Christmas.

In addition to housecleaning and shopping for gifts for family, friends, gamers, and co-workers, I’ve been dealing with automotive issues. A few weeks ago, I had some expensive repairs and maintenance done on my 1998 Honda Civic coupe. On my way from the local dump to work yesterday morning, my car started overheating.

I called into work and brought my beat-up green car (which I had bought used in 2000) to Boch Honda in Norwood. I’ve had to postpone several meetings to later this week. Another coolant hose had come loose, and more problems were likely coming soon. While waiting for the assessment, I went into the dealer area and eventually bought a 2011 Honda Fit Sport.

My family and friends are much more excited than I am about the new vehicle, which I consider merely a means to get from Point A to Point B in relative safety and comfort. I’m not a fan of gas-guzzling sport-utility vehicles and the distracted soccer moms or cellphone-using drivers behind the wheel. Still, the Fit is pretty stylish.

I had hoped to nurse the Civic through another harsh New England winter. Ice, salt, potholes, and tree sap take their toll. In 12 years here, I’ve been hit several times — never my fault — and the engine may have had another 100,000 miles in it. I was also in no hurry to begin making car payments anew, but repair bills were starting to become bigger and more frequent.

My red Fit has more passenger and cargo space than the Civic, despite being about the same compact-car length. Although most of my driving is stop-and-go, short-distance commuting with the occasional out-of-state trip to visit family, I hope to get good mileage. As of this writing, the four-door hatchback has only 17 miles on it so far.

What do you think I should name my new car? I’m asking only readers of this blog! I nicknamed my first car, a used red Chevy Cavalier, the Millennium Falcon for its utility and temperament. I sometimes called my Civic a “Runabout,” after Star Trek: Deep Space Nine‘s long-range shuttlecraft.

Death and humanism, Part 2: The Muppets

: It’s time to meet the Muppets!

I’ve been a fan of the late Jim Henson‘s creations since watching Sesame Street and the original Muppet Show as a child in the 1970s. Henson’s gentle humor didn’t talk down to children, nor was he afraid of including adult jokes that sailed over the heads of then-innocent younger audiences.

Janice has an Animal puppet, and I have a Kermit the Frog — both from before we met. We’ve attended exhibitions of Henson’s work at the Smithsonian Institution and other museums, and we met his widow and son Brian, among other puppeteers. Henson’s gifts of joy and wonder have continued to appeal for generations, but is The Muppets as entertaining as its predecessors? Also, are we able to enjoy our foam and felt friends as we once did?

The good news is that director James Bobin and actor and co-writer Jason Segal have made a strong effort to be faithful to Henson’s spirit and to keep the Muppets as wacky as ever. The Muppets is filled with celebrity cameos, allows us to revisit familiar characters and songs, and should be fast-paced enough for the children of original fans.

The movie follows brothers Gary (Segal) and Walter (voiced by Peter Linz) as they grow up and eventually visit the dilapidated Muppet Studios. Walter uncovers a plot by evil oil baron Tex Richman (Chris Cooper) to buy and tear down the Muppets’ former digs, so Gary drags his girlfriend Mary (Amy Adams) along for the ride to reunite the Muppets and hold a telethon to save the theater.

Segal’s love for the Muppets is apparent, and Oscar nominee (and future Lois Lane) Adams’ talents, first seen in Enchanted, are put to good use for various songs. The bucolic Smalltown is nicely contrasted with the Muppets’ latest road trip and the glamorous yet seedy Los Angeles. Cooper is surprisingly game as the villain, even breaking into a rap number, and Rashida Jones is an impatient studio executive.

Other cameos include the indefatigable Mickey Rooney, musician Dave Grohl, and actors Alan Arkin and Emily Blunt. Comedians Whoopi Goldberg, Zach Galifianakis, Jim Parsons, Sarah Silverman, and Jack Black also appear, continuing a tradition from the TV series and 1979 movie.

With iconic characters such as Superman, Mickey Mouse, and Bugs Bunny, their supporting casts grow over the decades and often overshadow them, so I was glad to see the focus back on Kermit in this year’s Muppets. Gonzo, Rizzo the Rat, and Pepe the Prawn are all present, but not dominant. I miss Henson as the voice of the friendly frog, but there were numerous visual cues to his ensemble variety show (one of the best, along with The Carol Burnett Show).

At the same time, I understand why Frank Oz — the original voice of Miss Piggy, Yoda, and many more — chose to step away from this production. I think the filmmakers tried to honor Henson’s idealism, but they were a bit down on the franchise, saying, “It has been years since we were together in the public eye,” even though Disney and Henson Studios have put out several Muppet movies.

There were a few times in The Muppets when Kermit seemed even more discouraged or Miss Piggy was even more of a diva than usual, but I think they were balanced out by the overall sweetness of the script and live-action supporting cast. To me, the moments that felt true included a barbershop quartet singing Nirvana’s “Smells Like Teen Spirit” and chickens clucking Cee Lo Green’s “Forget You.”

We also saw The Muppet Show‘s opening credits from a new angle, Animal in anger management therapy, as well as old favorites such as “Rainbow Connection.” Overall, I’d recommend The Muppets to anyone who’s still a kid at heart. (The recent comic books weren’t bad, either.) The movie is rated PG-13 for humor and slapstick, and I’d give The Muppets a B+, a 7.5 out of 10, or about three out of five stars. I’m glad I was able to see the film with fellow fans.

My favorite Muppet movies are The Muppet Movie, Muppet Christmas Carol, and Muppets From Space (I’d put The Muppets on par with the last one). I’m less fond of The Great Muppet Caper, The Muppets Take Manhattan, and Muppet Treasure Island. There are also several fun holiday specials — I’m partial to Emmet Otter’s Jug Band — and other TV shows, such as Fraggle Rock and The Storyteller.

Like Segal and company, I’m not sure that many children with their noses in videogames or being shuttled from soccer to dance practice and homework will appreciate The Muppets, but as with classic Star Trek, I think it’s worth making an effort to expose them to Henson’s humanist values of playful curiosity, determination in the face of adversity, and most importantly, kindness and acceptance of all.

Despite an untimely death, Jim Henson left a legacy of family-friendly entertainment as well as more mythic material, such as Labyrinth, The Dark Crystal, and Farscape. I’ve got posters of the Muppets and Farscape cast on my bedroom walls, “It’s Not Easy Being Green” on my lips, and a little bit of Henson in my heart.