Geek Parenting—You Know You’re Doing it Right.

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Photo from Geekabye Baby

Photo from Geekabye Baby

Yesterday as my family and I were hiking, my kids started singing songs from Doctor Horrible’s Sing-Along Blog. I was so proud. And anyone who passed us knew what awesome parents we are. But sometimes our kids are just too young to make sure our awesome parenting skills are known.

Well, now we have help at Geek-A-Bye Baby. Elizabeth Nelson knits and sews the most wonderful items for your baby, so everyone can know you are teaching them the important things in life.

Wonderful hats to keep your baby’s head toasty warm.

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Lovely toys so they can learn the geek ways early.

Photo from Geekabye Baby

Photo from Geekabye Baby

Cool diaper bag, so both mom and dad can take the baby out in style.

Photo from Geekabye Baby

Photo from Geekabye Baby

You can bring out one of her geek-themed changing pads and make sure everyone knows you are a quality parent, even if you have a dorky diaper bag someone gave you at your baby shower.

Photo from Geekabye Baby

Photo from Geekabye Baby

Geekabye Baby has a 99% satisfaction rating, and I now need a baby to buy things for!

Who Is On Your Team?

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Lynn Kelley, Zombie Apocalypse, Apocalypse

Photo by Lynn Kelley Author

The Apocalypse is here! Yes, grab your guns and lets start killing . . . um I mean grab your survival gear and let’s work together so the human race doesn’t go extinct.

So today’s questions is : Who Is On Your Team?

Team 1: I am an Army of One! I have my bags packed and ready in my closet, guns oiled and fully loaded, and several caches of supplies and ammo in various secret locations. My goal is to survive and have fun doing it. I have behaved well long enough. When this shit goes down, I am grabbing my list and killing me some morons, and the guy who cut my off in traffic yesterday! Waving a white flag won’t save you from my wrath (please say with a British accent it sounds cooler) however waving chocolate might buy you an hour’s head start.

Team 2: It’s all about survival, people. I have chosen a group of survival and weapons experts. We will dominate and secure our ideal area. Once that has happened will begin to allow civilians inside the compound. People will need to prove their worth, and we are taking applications so leave your name and skill set in the comments, those deemed worthy will be contacted by our head of HR and light weapons expert, Peggy.

Team 3 My team has been more carefully chosen then the disciples of Christ. Survival is black and white, you do or you die. I have put together the best survival experts, weapons experts, and communications experts (together they speak 10 languages including sign, know Morse code, smoke signals, and light signaling). This well-trained group will insure the survival and continued protection of the group of experts who will insure our continued survival.

blacksmith, zombie apocalypse

Photo by macswriter

Those skilled in traditional arts: blacksmiths, natural farmers, master carpenters, weavers, knitters, cobblers, tanners, canners, dyers, water and solar engineers, millers, butchers, bakers, and candle stick makers.

We also have a veterinarian, dentist, doctor, herbalist, and midwife. They all have experience working in third-world countries, with their spouses and children, who we have to bring along to insure our experts would come.
Everyone is training physically and mentally each week and gathering tools, supplies, and personal items for when the Event happens. While we aren’t taking applications at this time if you have a skill not mentioned about please put it in the comments and our surveillance team will do a thorough check on you before kidnapping you for the initial interview.

Team 4: I am going to wait out the crazy. I have enough food and supplies for four people to survive for ten years in the bunker under my house. I am taking applications for sex slaves, friends to hang out with. Ideal skills include: massage, cooking, gaming talent, and flexibility—both mental and physical. No druggies, must be able to pass physical health screening, must love Spam.

Team 5: I have always known I am Royalty, and now is my time to be one. I have carefully stored items that will be valuable and impossible to get within a year or two after the Event. Those on my team are my masseuse, chief, manicurist, and hairstylist. I have a place stocked and ready to go. Once this violence is settled, I will emerge in all my glory and ready to trade the items I have wisely stored. Just think how much food I can get for a package of condoms and some flavored lube. I am still in need of a security team, please comment below with your qualifications and willingness to wear a kilt.

kilt, zombie apocalypse

Photo by Noodles and Beef

Team 6: I hate people,. I am fully stocked and ready to survive alone for ten or more years. My place is so isolated and remote that few will ever find me and those who do will be taken care of by my booby traps and pack of wolves. Don’t bother leaving comments, I need no one. I have solar cells hooked up and have downloaded from Amazon every book, movie, and show. The thought of being alone for years makes my heart flutter.

Team 7: I live in a third-world country. My life won’t change much, except there won’t be annoying tourists popping up.

So which team are you a part of? Or do you need to start one? Have I forgotten an option? If so please let me know how you plan to survive the Apocalypse.

I Am The Most Awesome Parent!!

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Alica Mckenna Johnson

My son Logan

My son was working on his history paper, the topic women in aviation engineering. He says to me. “Mom I just learned something interesting. The women interviewed in the article says that at least 1/3 of all women in the field went to all-girl colleges.”

I say, ”Well, that makes sense. It is believed or maybe true that some men don’t like to date smart women, or at least women smarter than they are, so in mixed classes women tend to ‘dumb down.’”

Logan looked at me as if I had grown a second head. “What?”

Me, “I raised you right; you don’t understand.”

Logan, “That is lame. Who would want a date a guy like that anyway?”

Me, “I have no idea. Would it bother you if your girlfriend got a better grade on your English paper?”

Logan eyebrow raised. “Mom, she is so going to get a better grade on her English paper, and she’s in a higher math than me.”

I shrugged. “Does it make you feel like less of a man?”

Logan, “Of course not. Some people are so stupid.”

Me, “Yes, yes they are. And you’re welcome.”

Logan, “For what?”

Me, “Raising you to be better.”

Have you had a moment when you knew you had done an awesome job as a parent? I’d love to hear about it!

My Dad Was A Stripper

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Alica Mckenna Johnson, stripper

Photo by amaianos

When I was little I couldn’t pronounce what my father did for a living. Lithographer was simply too difficult. However, within the printing industry my father’s job was called ‘stripper’ because he cut out and assembled strips of film.

I can still remember being five and my friend’s parents asking me what my dad did for a living. I would smile all cute with my read hair in pig tails and freckles decorating my nose and say, “My dad is a stripper.” A look of shocked horror passed over their faces then I would quickly add. “But not the kind who takes off his clothes.” And then I would explain what he did.

As I got older, I enjoyed the shock and I would pause for a moment before explaining what he really did. I was able to pronounce lithographer for years before I stopped saying stripping was my father’s profession.
Yes, I was evil. Did you expect anything different? And seriously, if you have met my dad, you don’t expect anything different for me. He thought it was just as funny as I did.

Alica Mckenna Johnson

My Dad

Classiness for the Geek

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Reading Fan Girl, Downton Abbey, charm bracelet ,

Downton Abbey Charm bracelet photo from Reading Fan Girl


Every once in a while too horrific happens, and I have to dress up. And not just jeans instead of yoga pants paired with one of my nicer pop culture tee shirts instead of an older faded one. I mean shower, dust off the heels, wear grown-up stylish clothes, and possibly apply make-up. But even though I’m all dressed up, I still want to be me. So how do I honor my geeky fangirl soul and fit in at whatever function I’m being forced to go to?

Thankfully there is ReadingFanGirl on etsy. She has classy, beautiful jewelry that is subtle enough to pass inspection from the non-geeks but fangirly enough that other geeks in the room will send you nods of camaraderie, as they too have been forced to conform for the night.

Rose Brown creates Harry Potter jewelry such as Hermione’s Time Turner.

Time tuner, Alica Mckenna Johnson, Reading Fan Girl, Harry Potter

Time Turner, by Reading Fan Girl

Charm bracelets for Sherlock, Downton Abbey, and The Hunger Games.

Alica Mckeann Johnson, Sherlock, Reading Fan girl charm bracelet

Sherlock charm bracelet, by Reading Fan Girl

The sweetest hobbit doors.

Hobbit, necklace, Alica Mckenna Johnson, Reading Fan Girl

Hobbit Door by Reading Fan Girl

Plus much more. It would be hard for me to choose just one item! Do you have a favorite?

ReadingFanGirl has a 99% satisfaction rating. And you can follow her on Facebook

Alice in Wonderland by Reading Fan Girl

Alice in Wonderland by Reading Fan Girl

What Would You Eat?

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docguy, apocalypse, ice cream

Photo by docguy

The apocalypse is coming, you have a week before it gets here. So, what would you eat?

I know you don’t have to get ready. I mean, come on, you’ve already packed your bug-out bag and carefully marked caches of food and supplies in route to the perfect place to hole up and survive the End Times haven’t you? The only real worry you should have is whether the Event kills the people already living there, or are you going to have to do the job? And if they die on the carpet, how will you get it clean if there is no electricity?

Please don’t die on the carpet!

apocalypse, mango, magoes,

Photo by Tatters:)

Anyway while planning and plotting you’ll need to eat. Will you eat healthy so you can be at your peak physical ability? Or will you desperately gorge on foods that you love with all your heart?

There are foods out there you might not see again for a long time, if ever. So what will you eat? Which restaurants will you go to? What foods will you savor as bitter tears of sadness roll down your cheeks?

apoclypse, avacadoes, avacado

Photo by ercskiff

On my list: ice cream, avocado enchiladas, pad Thai, mangoes, shrimp, and egg rolls until my eyes roll back into my head.

Post Cupcake Sadness

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Photo by thesparechangekitchen

Photo by thesparechangekitchen


My loving husband bought me gluten free chocolate cupcakes. For the sake of my sanity, we won’t discuss the calorie count of these amazing treats. Before I ate my cupcake, I asked my daughter to make one of the gluten free cake mixes.

She rolled her eyes and asked why. Um, hello, post cupcake sadness. She looked at me as if she didn’t know what I was talking about.

Post cupcake sadness is a serious condition. While eating one’s cupcake there is happiness and joy, which can last for a while. But the next day, or a few short hours later, when there is no cupcake, there is much sadness, wishing one had waited to eat the cupcake, and hoping cupcakes will magically appear.

But now there won’t be the horrible post cupcake sadness. Now I can go and have a yummy piece of cake, and all will be right with the Universe again.

Photo by Lynn Kelly Author

Photo by Lynn Kelly Author

See, it’s all about being prepared.

How do you prepare for life’s difficult moments?

A Geek Girls To-Do List

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Tom Hiddleston, Alica Mckenna Johnson

Photo by Michelle Wright

We all have to-do lists. Lists of chores, errands, projects, phones calls—it goes on and on and on, until we want to crawl into bed and cry. But I have two to-do lists: the crappy one, and the one I wish I could devote all my time to. My Geek Girl To-Do List.

First there are books—books in series that I am in the middle of and addicted to. Books in series that I haven’t started yet. Classics that every good fantasy/ sci-fi fangirl has at least tried to read, and of course the books I loved enough I want to re-read them.

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This alone can take a lifetime, but I’m not done yet, because as a dedicated fangirl there is more on my list.
I have several actors and actresses whose shows I love and whose characters I love, and this means I must watch everything they have ever been in. I know you understand the need to obsessively, um, support their career.

Benedict Cumberbatch, Alica Mckenna Johnson

Photo by honeyfitz

And of course there are writers and directors whose long list of works I need to watch. I mean if they can turn me into a squealing fangirl for one show, I must check out the others. I might be missing something brilliant!

And as all good fans must know, there are shows and movies I need to re-watch. I mean, come on, what kind of a fangirl can’t quote and act out her favorite lines? And to do that takes dedication and repeatedly watching movies and shows over and over again.

Firefly cast, Alica Mckenna Johnson

Photo by Gage Skidmore

I also must watch the newest trailers so I can prepare emotionally for the new awesomeness that people are creating and offering up to us, their loyal followers.

It’s a lot of work, and commitment goes along with being a fan, and so far I have avoided gaming (I don’t have the time but I hope to start someday), and I don’t make videos or make fun witty photos.

How much time do you dedicate to your fandoms?

Debauchery in Kenya

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Heat of the Sun, Hide in Plain Sight, Alica Mckenna-Johnson
Heat of the Sun: Hide in Plain Sight

Apparently in the early 1900s Kenya was a hotbed of debauchery. People could go to Kenya and start new lives, be out and proud, and eventually the past would catch up to them, and then they would have to murder someone.

Heat of the Sun is a fun and interesting BBC crime drama. Kenya is a beautiful setting, and seeing a glimpse of life there during the 1930s was so interesting.

I found Supt. Albert Tyburn, played by Trevor Eve, to be charming and intelligent. Both my husband and I enjoyed watching him unravel the crime, find a way to keep his moral code, and follow the orders of his superior.

Computer Geeks, Accessorize!!!

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Gifts for Geeks, Alica Mckenna Johnson

Picture from GeekkiBoutikki

GeekkiBoutikki is a fun little Etsy shop that allows you to show your computer geek pride and look amazing at the same time.

The owner, Roxy, uses old floppy disks to make pencil holders, boxes, and purses. Perfect for the eco geek who wants to be très chic. :)

Gifts for Geeks, Alica Mckenna-Johnson

Picture from GeekkiBoutikki


She also makes jewelry from delicate silver chains and translucent, blue, electrical components. A perfect way to weed out potential partners; if they don’t recognize what your necklace is made of, they aren’t the man or woman for you. Multipurpose accessories are always a good thing. :)

Picture from GeekkiBoutikki

Picture from GeekkiBoutikki

GeekkiBoutikki has a 100% satisfactory rating, and Roxy has been generous enough to offer all of us a 20% discount code!! So go and shop for yourself, for an upcoming geeky friend’s birthday or perhaps start stockpiling for Christmas, and then type in this code: GKBTK1 and get 20% off!

Picture from GeekkiBoutikki

Picture from GeekkiBoutikki