They know me

A couple of friends gave me zombie-related gifts this Christmas. "The Zen of Zombie" offers "better living through the undead." And the corporate zombies were given to me so I "wouldn't forget what it was like to work in a cubicle."

It's nice to know others share my obsession with zombies and that my friends accept me despite this obsession. In fact, I recently attended a bachelor/bachelorette party, complete with strippers -- "Zombie Strippers." It's not what you think. Well, maybe it is. It's an awesomely bad zombie movie, starring Jenna Jameson and Robert Englund (of Freddie Krueger fame). There's not much plot to the movie, but it has plenty of gore and cheesy humor. It's not for the prudish or easily offended though. But throw in a group of rowdy friends, some pizza and beer, and it was a good time.

On a sad note, my laptop recently joined the ranks of the undead -- it beeps and whirs but it isn't cognitive. I'll be working on a Frankenstein PC until I the laptop is repaired (or indefinitely). It's not that the PC is out-dated, it's just been pieced together. I have a hand-me-down monitor, a brand-new wireless keyboard and mouse and an essentially homemade CPU. But it works ... well.

The thought of being without a computer was scarier than any undead thing could ever be -- especially with four writing assignments coming up. And as a person who works from home, I couldn't imagine not having e-mail and the internet to connect me to the outside world. And it is nice to type on a full-size keyboard and look at a full-size monitor.

What I drove: A year's worth

I put together a little slide show of the cars I test drove this past year (although I think I may have missed one).

Here, for your viewing pleasure, is What I drove: The year in review.

When in Rome

It has come to my attention that many people don't know how to use chopsticks -- or are uncomfortable trying to use them in front of other people. I thought I was the only one who made it into my 30s without being able to use chopsticks well. I suppose living with someone of Korean descent made it easier to learn quickly. (Even though I still only know a few words of Korean.)

I could pick up a chunk of chicken or a nice solid vegetable before. Now, I can eat just about anything with chopsticks. And for some reason, some foods really do taste better when you eat them with chopsticks, instead of a fork.

Over at eHow.com, they have a little tutorial on using chopsticks. Before you start, here's what eHow says you'll need:

Things You'll Need
A pair of chopsticks.
A hand with fingers and an opposable thumb.
A little patience.

Despite the silliness of that list, the article is somewhat helpful, but this video is better:


Or go rent "Kung Fu Panda" and watch the lesson on using chopsticks in the special features. The little girl in the video is adorable.

Trying my hand

Last month, I decided I was going to try to learn to crochet. My mom crocheted a lot, and I wanted to be able to do it, too. It was a bit of a disaster. I've been told knitting is easier and I should take a class. My mom tried to show me how to knit and crochet and sew and all those things when I was a kid. But I was too much of a tomboy to sit still for such girly pursuits. She did make me take Home Ec in junior high, so I learned some sewing and cooking -- no matter how hard I wanted to try not to (I couldn't stand to not get an A).

I'm no good at knitting or crocheting and only passable at sewing and cross-stitching. But I still always want to do crafts. I have a desire to create. So I'm trying my hand at a little jewelry making. I gave a friend a pair of earrings I made for Christmas, and she was gracious enough to say they looked good. I worry that she's just being nice.

Yesterday, I went out and bought a new pair of round-nose pliers. They seem to allow me to twist the wire more easily than standard needle-nose pliers. The earrings to the right are my latest attempt at jewelry making. They need a few minor adjustments, but I think they look pretty good.

On the other hand, my photography skills still leave something to be desired.

What I watched: "Bender's Game"

Fox may have canceled "Futurama" years ago, but the hilarious antics of Fry, Leela, Bender and the rest of the gang live on in feature length DVD movies. The latest one is "Bender's Game," a weird mix of Dungeons & Dragons, the Lord of the Rings and Star Wars.

I'll admit the humor in "Futurama" may not be for everyone, but I laughed out loud through most of the movie, because of lines like this:

"Oooh dreadfully real. If you die here you'll really be dead. But instead of science, we believe in crazy hocus-pocus. It's like Kansas."

If you're a fan of "The Simpsons" or "Futurama," this is definitely worth the price of a rental. If you're not a fan, I have to wonder why. "Futurama" has a foul-mouthed beer-swilling robot, an ass-kicking red hot cyclops chick and a slacker from the 20th century. What more could you want? Hermaphrodite centaurs? Dragon battles? Love triangles? Oh, yeah, this movie has them all. And more.

Check out the trailer: