ChocolateFrogs

You're forgetting something else. -CF Analyzing my "feels" for Matt's final episode, I realized this is shocking me in ways I didn't expect because I haven't properly said goodbye to a Doctor. I streamed through 9 and 10, catching up just in time to watch The End of Time. By then I knew Ten was leaving and was expecting Smith. While I knew Eleven was leaving now, he had been with me for 4 years instead of a few months, and I really don't want to let him go.

But that's not an ending. It's telling us that Trenzalor is now a war-torn graveyard for soldiers. Not showing us a conclusion. :/ -CF

-CF

I'm surprised I'm still near the top of the "most comments" sort. I do so little blogging now (ever since that 6-month BZP downtime), but it seems others do even less. -CF

Often heard, especially in retail, like the bookstore where I work, is that giving a gift card seems "too impersonal." And that makes sense. If you know the person well, then, theoretically, you should know which book/game/CD/LEGO set/etc to get them as a gift. I helped a friend choose out a LEGO set for our friend, and I found something I know he didn't have but would enjoy. Other times, I might have, say, my brother's Christmas list, so know what to get him. But on the other hand, knowing exactly what they want can be tough. Often customers (especially relatives and family friends) don't know what someone has already read (for my example), or has a hard time pinpointing what to buy someone. When it's easy, great. When it's hard, I feel a gift card says you know the person well enough to shop at that store. Plus, in my case at least, receiving a gift card to someplace I shop frequently is great because it means I can buy stuff without expense to me. (Like when my parents got me a gift card to my comic shop for my birthday.) Point being, sometimes it's just as great giving someone a gift card and reliving a bit of their spending, or letting them choose exactly what they've been wanting for a while but haven't told anyone. -CF

I like the Miru behind Gary Glee. I figure you'd appreciate someone noticing that. -CF

I just found some BrickForge freebies while cleaning my room. ...Handed out at BrickFair 2012. Oops. Still, more cool things to have minifigs hold! Woohoo! -CF

This is so cool! I'm sure I can come up with something if I come up with the free time to build. Space is my thing! If I do more than one MOC, do all two or three have to be posted at the same time or can it be a gradual entry? -CF

Might as well say it sooner rather than later: I don't plan on going to BrickFair Alabama in January or Bricks Cascade in March. I need to buy a new computer as the new year rolls over* and probably a new bike come springtime (mine got stolen in September). Convince me to go to a springtime/summertime convention within a few hours drive? Go for it. But a whole day's drive mid-south or flight out west (as wonderful as Portland and its inhabitants are) isn't a good idea for me.** -CF *This thing is 5+ years old! **Make it rain money and then we can talk plane fare.

Your stuff shows up in my RSS. I'll comment if I need to. -CF

...has a ROCKET CHAIR! That better make it into a set. -CF

After seven years, the title is finally official! I am the Piraka Fusionist! It's still built! It even came to BrickFair this year! I'll probably bring it to BrickCon because why not?* It's nowhere near a decent MOC, especially after I've built other, better things, but this guy has to have a special place in my heart, and there isn't anything I'd change about it. (Well, that tail's tip is pretty ridiculous. Hey, I was 16.) Just go look at one of my posts and look at my new, fancy title! -CF *Luggage. That's why not.

How are you THAT fast? You must have responded in less than a minute of posting! Do you just refresh my blog every couple of moments in case I make an entry??? -CF

If you've mailed me MOCs (or art) for BrickFair, I've mailed them back, with a prototype part! -CF

Did you have fun?Yeah! Laser tag with friends is always a win in my book! Would you do it again next year?Sure thing! This was a blast and a great activity between convention fun. How could it have been better?More time for food. Slipping a game between pizza slices didn't work well for me, and a little more eating time before the second game would have been great. Also, I'm sure once we request a bigger room and let them know we expect a large crowd we would get more pitchers of water/soda. That stuff went quickly between all of us (and of course we wanted it right after running around the maze). Did the timing (Saturday right after the public left) work for everyone?For everyone? IDK. I felt it worked well. The public hours ending was a definitive marking for a change of pace--people are leaving, time for the next thing. Sure, we could do it Friday during the day or in the evening, but I also felt there was other stuff going on--games or talks, stanchion set up, evening dinners... Saturday seemed logical to me. Plus, half the point of holding it right after the public left on Saturday was so we could include visiting BZPers that came during public hours, so they could hang out with us a little longer after. Would you prefer some other type of activity? If so, what? Nah, laser tagging at BrickFair has been a thing for a while now, and I'm glad I was finally able to take part. Everyone seemed to have fun (as they ought to). The price (for two games and dinner) was reasonable to me. I can't think of any other activity in the area that would provide this quality time with BZPers. -CF

Bunda of all the people I wanted to come to BrickFair to finally meet, you're like, #3. But with another BrickFair having past, you are now #1. Hotel is under $125 for 4 nights if you split a room with 3 others. Airfare? Well, everything comes with a price. Totally worth it though (as evident by my flight out to BrickCon in October. And my blog is completely outdate too. Oh well. -CF

Jason is one of the few members I prefer to call by his real name rather than his BZP name. It's just so much easier. -CF

Stargate is awesome. I haven't watched nearly enough episodes but I'm a fan nonetheless. -CF

I second this... Anyway, you know how much I enjoyed meeting you and sharing the week with you. More than words can say. Can't wait to see you again! -CF

I have a handful of favorite comic book artists: Chris Bachalo, Stuart Immonen (those All-New X-Men covers, am I right?), Dave McKean, and recently Jae Lee in Batman/Superman (apologies to Jack Kirby, though I'll soon read some FF comics drawn by him), but none of them have drawn my #1 favorite cover ever. See, now and then a comic might get published with a blank variant cover made from hard stock paper, the purpose being for commissions, presumably from a well-known comic artist visiting a convention (or your 2-year-old who likes Batman). I took a slightly less orthodox approach and handed my comic over to a friend. Don't take this notion lightly. This was a paid commission (in various terms), but it was worth every penny. And, while everything comes with a price, I'm sure she'll be up for earning a bit of cash for commissions if you just drop her a PM. Without further ado, this is the lovely Lady Kopaka's fantastic, wonderful, too-good-for-words-like-those-raptors drawing of Batman and Superman on Batman/Superman #1, N52, published in June. I especially like how the capes flow with their length. And the backgrounds for each character. And the attention to detail, like Clark's t-shirt instead of his suit since that's what he has in this issue. Now I just gotta figure out how to frame this! -CF (Seriously though, send her a PM and see if she has the time for commissions. She likes making money off of her talent.)

The BrickFair withdrawl really hit me hard this year, as I love you all (well, most of you, not you, and you're ok... you know who you are ) and as such strong bonds were formed and reformed saying goodbye until who-knows-when was really hard. But what I especially realized as I left everyone after our final dinner was how much fun we are compared to my local friends and friends from college. Maybe because I see them more often it's not as tough, or maybe because I know them so much better it's no question I'll see them again soon; but really it's more about how much of an awesome time I have with BZP and how average hanging out is with my usual friends. I guess we just party hard (BZParty?) at the big get togethers instead of keeping it average. Can't let my local friends see this post thought. XD -CF

It looks like a nice micro-space ship, but it isn't the best micro-space ship out there. I bet even LEGO's designers could do better, and any number of people on flickr. I just don't see this being a practical set considering all the alternatives (and size). -CF

It was topical. It was the best time to post it. (I would have posted it a week or two earlier had I written it a week or two ago.) -CF

Why you shouldn't attend BrickFair: Because you live "too far" away. Why you should attend a convention near you: Because they are awesome. tl:dr--Well maybe you shouldn't have tl:dr'ed my editorial. -CF

Yay! Congratulations to you both! -CF