Hey folks, just a quick note to apologize for the silence around here. I actually have a number of topics to blog about and one post in the queue awaiting photos but we're still settling in to a routine here so the photography part has been difficult. I actually managed to get some time yesterday to take photos and the session was total crap.
Please bear with me and I will try to be back to regular posting soon.
Friday, January 17, 2014
Wednesday, January 1, 2014
2013 in review and some thoughts on 2014.
Heather at The Majokko Shop posted her end of the year review HERE and that, along with some year end discussions elsewhere, has inspired me to post my own take on the year that was and the year to come.
First up, my view of where things will be going on this blog.
-RoG is NOT going to become a "Daddy blog" (ugh) in spite of some recent posts to the contrary. I love my kids and I have taken time to discuss each of their births here but that isn't the focus of this blog.
-I will try to stay as apolitical as possible. What I share with my readers in this little corner of the internet is intended to be familiar to those with similar hobbies. I've met people from around the world both here and at other blogs and sites with whom I share common interests but I have discovered that we sometimes don't see eye to eye on other issues. You didn't come here for a poli-sci lecture so I'll try to spare you from reading one.
-I hope to not devolve in to a "look what I got" type of blog. Yes, collecting is a major part of my hobbies but I see it as merely a means to an end rather than an end unto itself. The goal is to find things I like and to enjoy them, not to brag about what I've bought. I want to share with like-minded enthusiasts but not wave it in your face if such a hobby is currently out of reach. I understand because I've been there many times in my life and even now, other priorities often come before hobbies.
While 2013 was a bit of a wild ride in real life (including a near miss from an EF4 tornado!), the hobby side of things went pretty well. I've change my strategy a bit to reflect the reality of my life nowadays. Whereas I once envisioned grand projects, I now limit myself to simple, reachable goals. I decided to finally branch out and purchase some more expensive figures and dolls than I had normally done in the past. This led me to buy some 3A/Ashley Wood figures and a few Azone Pure Neemo dolls. Honestly, I'm happier with this direction AND I think I might've spent less over all than in some of my busiest years of "kitbashing". I still love a good bargain and I do still pursue a want list of older figures and dolls but that's no longer competing with the "Hey, why don't I kitbash an entire Army brigade in 1/6 scale" approach that I was taking. Let's face it, buying piles of stuff that you may use on some project that you might do is a huge waste of space and money.
Since I really had no specific goals in relation to this blog, I can't say that I've failed or achieved anything of note this year. I do wish I'd posted more since I had plenty to write about but the time and motivation just weren't there.
Looking forward to 2014, I want to post here more often and expand my network of fellow hobbyists. One important change that needs to occur is photography. While we don't all speak the same language, sharing the hobby through imagery is nearly universal. This is something I struggle with, not only because of time and space constraints but I simply don't use my camera to its full potential. It's nearly impossible to keep a permanent photography area set up in my house and my camera (a Nikon D40X) seems rather finicky about the light and setting I use. I might need something a bit more idiot proof!
Aside from my previously mentioned "want list", I have no definite plans for the hobby in 2014. I'm pleased with my collection of Pure Neemo dolls and will probably add more this year. I initially planned a limit of six but I can easily see that increasing. However, I think I'd rather focus on things like accessories and clothes instead of just buying more dolls. I also REALLY need to inventory and assess my stuff with an eye towards pairing it down (didn't I say that here once before? Hmmmm???).
So, in conclusion, I guess for now I'l just keep doing what I've been doing but try to take and post more photos. Or something like that...!
Oh yeah, Happy New Year.
First up, my view of where things will be going on this blog.
-RoG is NOT going to become a "Daddy blog" (ugh) in spite of some recent posts to the contrary. I love my kids and I have taken time to discuss each of their births here but that isn't the focus of this blog.
-I will try to stay as apolitical as possible. What I share with my readers in this little corner of the internet is intended to be familiar to those with similar hobbies. I've met people from around the world both here and at other blogs and sites with whom I share common interests but I have discovered that we sometimes don't see eye to eye on other issues. You didn't come here for a poli-sci lecture so I'll try to spare you from reading one.
-I hope to not devolve in to a "look what I got" type of blog. Yes, collecting is a major part of my hobbies but I see it as merely a means to an end rather than an end unto itself. The goal is to find things I like and to enjoy them, not to brag about what I've bought. I want to share with like-minded enthusiasts but not wave it in your face if such a hobby is currently out of reach. I understand because I've been there many times in my life and even now, other priorities often come before hobbies.
While 2013 was a bit of a wild ride in real life (including a near miss from an EF4 tornado!), the hobby side of things went pretty well. I've change my strategy a bit to reflect the reality of my life nowadays. Whereas I once envisioned grand projects, I now limit myself to simple, reachable goals. I decided to finally branch out and purchase some more expensive figures and dolls than I had normally done in the past. This led me to buy some 3A/Ashley Wood figures and a few Azone Pure Neemo dolls. Honestly, I'm happier with this direction AND I think I might've spent less over all than in some of my busiest years of "kitbashing". I still love a good bargain and I do still pursue a want list of older figures and dolls but that's no longer competing with the "Hey, why don't I kitbash an entire Army brigade in 1/6 scale" approach that I was taking. Let's face it, buying piles of stuff that you may use on some project that you might do is a huge waste of space and money.
Since I really had no specific goals in relation to this blog, I can't say that I've failed or achieved anything of note this year. I do wish I'd posted more since I had plenty to write about but the time and motivation just weren't there.
Looking forward to 2014, I want to post here more often and expand my network of fellow hobbyists. One important change that needs to occur is photography. While we don't all speak the same language, sharing the hobby through imagery is nearly universal. This is something I struggle with, not only because of time and space constraints but I simply don't use my camera to its full potential. It's nearly impossible to keep a permanent photography area set up in my house and my camera (a Nikon D40X) seems rather finicky about the light and setting I use. I might need something a bit more idiot proof!
Aside from my previously mentioned "want list", I have no definite plans for the hobby in 2014. I'm pleased with my collection of Pure Neemo dolls and will probably add more this year. I initially planned a limit of six but I can easily see that increasing. However, I think I'd rather focus on things like accessories and clothes instead of just buying more dolls. I also REALLY need to inventory and assess my stuff with an eye towards pairing it down (didn't I say that here once before? Hmmmm???).
So, in conclusion, I guess for now I'l just keep doing what I've been doing but try to take and post more photos. Or something like that...!
Oh yeah, Happy New Year.
Tuesday, December 24, 2013
Wishing you a very Merry Christmas!
Hey folks. Just stepping in to wish my readers a very Merry Christmas (or a happy holiday regardless of how you celebrate) from my family and the entire Geektopian crew.
Asuna wishes you a Merry Christmas and also wishes she could figure out how to attach her elf ears!
Since the last few entries were all about the birth of my daughter, I'll mention that everything turned out fine and her birth went quite well. She's a healthy, normal, beautiful little girl and her Mom, Dad and big brother are all very taken with her (at least her brother seems OK with her). She's the best Christmas gift I could possibly have and both my kids are my greatest blessing.
Again, Merry Christmas to everyone!
Wednesday, December 11, 2013
It's now stuck in your head....
The Final Countdown, that is!
Tomorrow, Mrs. G and I are to become parents for the second time. Babygirl Geektopian joins Mom, Dad and (not so) Big Bro Geektopian in our little family circle. So far, everything has gone great and here's hoping and praying for a trouble-free birth. Dad's a BIT nervous even though we just did this not so long ago. *WHEW*
Meanwhile, "enjoy" getting one the most epic-cheesy songs of the 80s stuck in your head!
Kazookeylele cover:
The "never practiced" flipping awful band version:
The rather mundane original:
Tomorrow, Mrs. G and I are to become parents for the second time. Babygirl Geektopian joins Mom, Dad and (not so) Big Bro Geektopian in our little family circle. So far, everything has gone great and here's hoping and praying for a trouble-free birth. Dad's a BIT nervous even though we just did this not so long ago. *WHEW*
Meanwhile, "enjoy" getting one the most epic-cheesy songs of the 80s stuck in your head!
Kazookeylele cover:
The "never practiced" flipping awful band version:
The rather mundane original:
Monday, December 9, 2013
Hoooo-Leeee CRAP!
So, the newly announce Azone Pure Neemo Yuzuha sold out in what must've been mere seconds. I even managed to catch her as soon as she was put up on AmiAmi and in the brief time it took me to complete my purchase, she sold out (EDIT- meaning she sold out before I could complete my order and I didn't get one). This was even faster than the short period of time "Rocker Girl" Yuzuha was available.
I hope some of you PN fans got one because it now seems like a question of how fast you can type, or how many light-nanoseconds away you are from the retailer's server. I like Pure Neemo dolls but stuff like this is more than a little frustrating.
I hope some of you PN fans got one because it now seems like a question of how fast you can type, or how many light-nanoseconds away you are from the retailer's server. I like Pure Neemo dolls but stuff like this is more than a little frustrating.
 |
| Yuzuha- Proving that physical objects CAN move faster than light! |
Thursday, December 5, 2013
It's almost that time!
Only one more week to go, unless Baby Girl decides to show up early.
If I go in to silent mode in the next week or so, it's because "Dad Duty" is taking up what little spare time I have. I'm about as ready as I can be, Mom is definitely ready and Big Brother is still a bit uncertain as to what this whole "baby business" means.
If I go in to silent mode in the next week or so, it's because "Dad Duty" is taking up what little spare time I have. I'm about as ready as I can be, Mom is definitely ready and Big Brother is still a bit uncertain as to what this whole "baby business" means.
Tuesday, December 3, 2013
Dear Leader... from the archives.
Here's someone we haven't seen in quite a while; Chancellor Alrich Stahl, Dear Leader of the Caelian Democratic Republic. Digging through old photos again, I ran across this image that I'd never posted of the beloved Chancellor.
I'm not really sure where Alrich fits in to things nowadays. Is he a harmless kook with delusions of grandeur or is he really the de facto dictator of some wretched totalitarian "People's Republic"? And if he's just a kook, then who is that similarly attired woman that's always by his side and who are those AK74-wielding, vaguely East German looking soldiers accompanying him on the shelf behind me?
I don't remember owning this uniform but obviously I do, in fact, own it. I like how the hat is just a bit too big and gives him that Russian officer/ third world dictator look (a style of hat Russian soldiers derisively call a pinochetka).
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