Fire and Ice

I thought I'd share a couple of recent pick-ups with you.  I was at Tractor Supply the other day and saw this way cool Schleich Frost Mammoth and decided for the price to grab it. The Heroclix figure is called Sindr.  She is a Fire Giant Figure from Marvel Comics.

I think both are crazy cool looking.  They will make nice additions to my collection.

On the way is a set of demons I purchased on Etsy.  I was inspired to get them because of my fondness to the Mazikeen character from Lucifer. Mazzikin are demons from Jewish Mythology.  I'll share the pics of the painted minis when I'm done.

Take care out there.  Stay safe and enjoy the day!

Frost Mammoth

Sindr

Tales of Brave Ulysses

Went to see The Odyssey with family yesterday.  It was decent. If I had to assign it a letter grade, I'd give it a B.  Not sure what all the hoopla was about. It's a very good film, but it wasn't great.

The acting across the board (Theron, Holland, Zendaya, Hathaway, Pattinson) was well done (some better than others).  Matt Damon was exceptional.  The story deviates from Homer's original at times which I was not a fan of (The Giants for example).  The pace is off.  Too slow at times and too fast at others.  The scene with the Sirens (which you can't really see) I thought was too short.  Special effects were bad (Cyclops, Scylla). There was just a lot that wasn't working for me.

I did like the take on Odysseus. He was a man who was tormented by his choices. He was also lost (more than geographically). Even as he sailed into the sunset at the end, he still seemed haunted by his past.

Was I entertained for nearly 3 hours?  Yes.  Do I think that I will ever watch it again?  No.  Go see it for yourself. If you know nothing about Homer's poem or have see other movie versions before, so much the better.  You will have nothing to compare it to and can accept it for what it is.

Caught in the Web

I binge watched Spider Noir Season 1 on Prime last night. I'll admit I feel a little tired this morning. I thought it was decent, but not great.  Nicolas Cage was too old for the part and his acting...well...was just Nicolas Cage.  Li Ju Li (Cat Hardy) steals the show.  Lamorne Morris was fantastic as Robbie Robertson. Karen Rodriguez was amazing. Joe Massingill was spectacular as Electro.

For the most part it played out like a comic book.  Semi interesting story line - American Soldiers experimented on by the Germans during WW1.  There was a cool take on the origin of Mr. Spider. That's about it.  Everything else was kinda meh. On a scale of one to ten, I'd give it a seven.  No season 2 is scheduled at this time. 

FYI: You can watch the series in color or black and white.  I watched it in color.  I think that was probably a mistake on my part.

Go Steelers!!!

I've often discussed the Pittsburgh Penguins and Pitt Panthers here.  The Pittsburgh Steelers, not so much.  I watched their first preseason game last night and it didn't disappoint.  New season, new coach, lots of new players and staff. The Black and Gold squared off against the Packers (Coach McCarthy's former team) and came away with their first win of the year.

The first half was pretty much of a tie. The Steelers roared to life in the second half with the two young QBs (Will Howard and Drew Allar) marching the team up and down the field for multiple touchdowns.  The receiving corps did an outstanding job. The running game was decent.  The defense held Green Bay to just 3 field goals.  A big negative was the penalties (Can't afford those in the regular season, gentlemen!!!)  All-in- all, it was a fun game to watch.

I'm looking forward to watching them take on the Jets next week.  Hopefully, the team can give Yinzer Nation something to cheer about!  Go Steelers!!!!

Side note:  I also watched the Hall of Fame Game.  It was a great way to kick off the season.  The Carolina Panthers took on the Arizona Cardinals.  Two rookie quarterbacks battled it out which made it fun to watch.  It came down to the wire.  Carolina's QB, Carson Beck, ran one in for a TD with 18 seconds left on the clock. Good game!

Eclipsed

I knew that there was going to be a solar eclipse today.  I set a reminder on my phone so that I wouldn't forget.  When the alarm went off, I headed to the back deck and grabbed a seat.  The event would be happening in 15 minutes and I was ready.

Three hours later I woke up, and much to my disappointment, I had missed the entire thing.  Looking on the bright side, I had a fantastic afternoon nap.  Well, I guess there is always next time...which just happens to be February 6, 2027.  I've already marked it on my calendar and set the reminder.  Maybe I'll have better luck then.

100,000

I am ecstatic about the fact that my humble little blog has had over 100,000 views as of today. Back in 2011 when I started this, I had no idea what to write about or what to do with it.  Over the years, I've shared my passion for my hobbies, my travel experiences, foods and beverages that I have enjoyed, tv shows and movies that I like (or dislike),  personal thoughts/experiences, and more.  I just wanted to take a moment and thank all of you who have taken the time to peruse my blog.

Fifteen years ago when I began this journey, I did not know where I would end up.  I still don't know that.  I will continue to share small snippets of my life with all of you out there. Take care, come back and visit. To infinity and beyond!

There Is No Escape

It's a rainy morning here in the Burgh.  I got out my Heroscape: Age of Annihilation figures and decided to share some group shots with all of you out there.   I bought all of these guys prepainted. Take a gander.  Enjoy!

Revnan Acolytes & Grave Grim

Loviatak, Misaerix, & Kyrie Warriors

Raakchott & Heroes of Aboreas 

 Crimson Widow & Dreadnaughts of Caraway Cavern

Knight Irene & Frostclaw Paladins

Major Q-11, Deflectatron, Admiral EJ-1M

Raelin and Dorim

Knaves of the Silver Scimitar

Exiles of the Sundered Seas

Oh Hell!

I've been watching the TV series Lucifer (based on the DC Vertigo comic books) for the past few weeks.  I have to say it's quite good.  Great storylines and characters (all of them).  The writing is superb. The acting is great. The set for Lux is incredible. Tom Ellis is amazing as Lucifer Morningstar.  Kudos to all involved.

Another bonus was that the show peaked my curiosity.  I've done research into the actors backgrounds, the DC comic book series, the biblical and mythological aspects of the story and the characters.  It's all been quite fascinating.  You could say that I have become a bit of a detective myself (Chloe would be proud!)

If you're looking for something new to watch, hop onto Netflix and give it a go. Just don't say the Devil made you do it!

Chilly Willy

That's what I named this guy. (Anyone remember the cartoon character by the same name?)  This is a D&D Frost Salamander. I saw one while I was watching a Boylei Hobby Time Video and thought that it was rad.  So, I decided to get my own. Check out this bluish bad boy.

The D&D Figure

The Cartoon Character

Lethal Ladies

I just picked up these 3 lovelies from Noble Knight Games.  L to R:  Marvel Comics Spiral, DC Comics Katana, Kick Ass Mother Russia.  I got all of these HeroClix at a great price.  They look way cool.  I'm psyched.

Four Fiendish Foes

I recently purchased these four D&D minis from The Vault in Greensburg, PA. I thought they looked super cool.  Our four-legged friend is a Hellhound.  The knight with the flaming spear is a Narzugon (Hell Knight).  The dwarf-like guys with the shields are Azer Warriors.

I had a blast painting them last night.  I put on some INXS and away I went.  I'm pleased with the outcome.  Check 'em out.  Enjoy your day and stay safe out there.

Un-Reliable

Reliable Exteriors is a home improvement company in Western Pa. I had them close in a deck for me. Issues from the start. Wrong windows, delays, work not done correctly. When finished, it looked nice. Now it leaks. They tried twice to fix it and it still leaked. Don (the owner) came out and said give him a week and someone would be out to take another look (that was in March). They've ghosted me since. Reliable???  They had my money and that was the end of it.

Around the House

My wife made a pseudo Peninsula Grill Ultimate Coconut Cake to take to a Fourth of July Party tomorrow. It looks amazing!😋 We had the real McCoy there a few years ago and she fell in love with it.

I ventured out in the heat (95) to get some pics of the Day Lilies blooming around my house. They look super cool!

Slitherin

No, not one of the four legendary houses from the Harry Potter series, but a couple of wee wigglies from Reaper Bones Miniatures.  I am planning (at some point) to do a dessert-themed fantasy army  (a la Tomb Kings) in the near future (maybe near??)  I bought these two belly sliders to be used as part of that ensemble.  Pictured below are a Giant Cobra (yellow and blue) and a Naga.

I love both sculpts (very cool looking).  The paint job on the cobra was one I mimicked from a pic I saw online.  The Naga paint is an amalgamation of ideas I saw on the Net.  Take a gander.  Don't get too close.

Up next, I think, will be these Wizkids warriors.  I picked them up recently for a decent price.  I thought they looked rad.  These guys are D&D Nolzur's Miniatures. Look for pics to come.

A "Texas-Size" Cake

Several decades ago I was born in San Antonio, Texas.  My wife decided it was time to celebrate my arrival on the planet since I had a close call and could have left said planet a few short months ago.  Needless to say, I happy to still be here and posting on my humble little blog.

We're having some guests over later (family and friends) for a cookout. Hot sausages, sliders, potato salad, corn casserole, seven layer salad, deserts, and of course cake.  I love chocolate chip cookies and am a big Dallas Cowboys fan, so my wife combined the two and made a chocolate chip cookie cake with a big blue star on it.  I LOVE IT and can't wait to dig into it.

I am thankful for my life.  My wife and sons are terrific.  My family and friends are kindhearted special folks who I am happy to have.  No present needed, I already have the best ones!!! 

The Mandalorian and Grogu

I went to see The Mandalorian and Grogu with my son yesterday.  He's a huge Star Wars fan and decided to take me to see it as a belated Father's Day present. I read a lot of hoopla online about the film since it came out.  Folks seemed to be torn into two camps about the movie: lovers and haters.

Personally I thought the film was pretty decent.  It was certainly entertaining.  Let me be clear (thanks, Obama LOL), it was no Rogue One.  It wasn't even as good as Solo.  Yet, I did find it to be a decent story.  The acting was good (Sigourney Weaver was just so-so).  Loved Rotta, Embo, Hugo, Zeb, and Gatori. Watching it with my son, was priceless. 

My advice, don't go in with any expectations.  Grab a bucket of popcorn (extra butter) and a drink.  Sit back, relax, and enjoy.

Snack Time

 Like many of you I enjoy a good snack or two.  I like to much when I'm on the computer, reading, watching some sports on the tube, playing cards, or visiting with friends.  I enjoy trying different types of snacks to check out different brands and flavors.  Here are some I've consumed as of late.

Pirate's Booty Aged White Cheddar Snack Puffs - Like cheese curls but better.  Very addicting!!!! 

Utz Honey Wheat Pretzel Twists - These are fantastic!  Very flavorful!  Love the crunch!!!

Smart Food White Cheddar Popcorn - I alternate these with Cheddar Snack Puffs.  Grab a bowl full!!

liveGfree Gluten Free Sea Salt Brown Rice Crisps - A new favorite.  I use them like tortilla chips.

Some of these are healthier than others. Everything in moderation.  I enjoy them.  Try 'em out for yourself.

Scrapin' in the Scrapyard

It started with this guy.  He is from Bones Miniatures and is called Keryx the Cyborg Assassin.  While looking for him I came across a miniature that I completely forgot I had.  The figure is a Heresy Miniature called Security Sgt. Dove.  

Keryx (Tyler Dove)

Sgt. Dove (Taylor)

A story started brewing in my head.  These two were brothers; Tyler and Taylor Dove.  They were born on Damascus 12, a manufacturing planet in the Planetary Alliance.  Damascus 12 produced parts for the farming equipment on agricultural worlds, the military, and the enormous space fleet of the Alliance.  Their father owned a scrapyard on the planet.  Ty and Tay would play among the junk when they were kids.  One day while they were in the yard, they heard what sounded like lasgun fire.  It came from the building where their father's office was.  They ran towards the office and when they got there, their father was lying on the floor in a pool of blood.

The police investigation never found the murderer.  Both boys vowed that they would do everything they could to solve the case.  Ty was older and joined the police force and quickly rose to the rank of detective.  Tay joined the force two years later and was a rookie when his brother disappeared while investigating a local smuggler.

Reports of a cyborg killing local gangsters began to circulate in the precinct.  When Tay saw and image of the assassin on his com-screen, it looked a lot like his missing brother. He knew he needed to find him and stop the killing spree.  In his gut, he felt that his brother's investigation of the smuggler, his brother's disappearance, the gangster killings, and the cyborg were all connected. Little did he know how right he was.

Taylor's gut told him that he would find his brother at their father's long abandoned scrapyard. The cyborg, now a killing machine for his boss, the smuggler, who was eliminating all local competition was ordered to take out a young police sergeant who was poking his nose into the recent killings.  For some reason, the cyborg thought the police officer could be found at a nearby scrapyard.  The hunt was on. 

The scrapyard piece I cobbled together with a bunch of bits I had in a box along with some parts I had from old Tamiya kits.  The platform was to put metal scraps on so that a crane could pick them up and load them on to a transport.  It was a favorite spot for Ty and Tay to play on and under when they were kids.

* I gave Security Sgt. Dove (Taylor) a custom base (It was one I didn't use from Kabuki Miniatures.)  I wanted a Blade Runner/Ghost in the Shell feel for him.

Freebies

For many years, I have ordered minis from Reaper Miniatures.  A good number of my posts feature some of the ones I have painted.  I'm a big fan of their products and will continue to purchase more of them down the road.

One of the things that I have enjoyed is that with an order, Reaper will often give you a free miniature (of their choosing).  The two that I am featuring in today's post are examples of what I am writing about.  I received both of these great miniatures for free with past orders.

The one with the staff is Arkus Harn.  He is a dwarf witch hunter.  The other one with the two blades is Naus the Waghalter.  He is described as a Human Rogue.

I like them both. For free, I like them even better.  

Dragon Fire Five

A few posts back I shared a photo of a dragon toy I found at Walmart that I did a repaint on.  I also shared some pics of other dragons that were for sale at Walmart in a different post.  Well boys and girls, I am proud to say that I have bought several more of those dragons and did some repaints on them as well.

There were three more dragons that I missed out on.  They are no longer available.  Here's the whole crew. These five are sure to light up (LOL) any gaming table.  Check 'em out! 

Too Bad

These two are too bad!  The Ogre Clubber on the left is from Reaper Bones Miniatures.  The Efreeti on the right is a D&D Nolzur's Marvelous Miniature by Wizkids.  I started out with a Slap Chop Painting on them, but it wasn't working out (I needed to drybrush the white paint over the black more heavily...live and learn).

I don't think that they turned out too badly (LOL). I hope you feel the same way.  Adios for now.  See you again down the road a bit.

It's Not Just Me

 

I pulled some comments off the internet in support of some of my views of Heroscape Age of Annihilation:

Powers and Abilities

Based on community reviews and early analysis of the Heroscape: Age of Annihilation Master Set, several abilities and unit designs have been criticized as underwhelming, poorly designed, or "dumb" due to power imbalances or lack of synergy.

Design and Thematic "Dumb" Choices

• Poorly Integrated Bonding: The Vorid faction has poor synergy, where special bonding with the Frostclaw Paladins doesn't extend to the Glide Strikers, making them feel clunky in play.
• "Steampunk Animal" Aesthetic: Many players felt the steampunk animal theme, especially for the Vorids, was a jarring and "dumb" aesthetic shift for the Heroscape universe.
• Limited Synergy with Classic Sets: A major complaint is that many new units lack real synergy with classic (pre-2010) sets, acting more like a separate, unbalanced game rather than an expansion.
• Overpowered Squads/Underpowered Heroes: Some units, like the Knaves of the Silver Scimitar, are often seen as too strong for their point cost compared to other, more expensive hero options, leading to imbalance in competitive drafting.
• Unit/Sculpt Mismatch: Some units have a lack of cohesion between their visual model and their abilities.

Scale Creep

Also, the new figures are physically larger, with many standing "head and shoulders" over classic figures, making them appear scaled up.

A Little Crabby

I purchased this very cool looking crab awhile back.  Unfortunately, it got put in a container with a lot of  other items when I moved last year.  Out of sight, out of mind.  I was looking for another figure (which I also forgot I had) and came across Mr. Crab.  

I'm thinking about doing another pirate set in the near future and thought I might add my Crustacean friend to the group.  We shall see.

As always, thanks for taking the time to check out my humble little blog.  I do appreciate it. Enjoy your day and stay safe out there.

 

The Return of the Eisenek

Eisenek
Back Row:  Scavorith, Iron Lich Viscerot, Hellforge Mandukor
Front Row: Necrotech Wraithriders

According to Heroscape Lore, the Eisenek are a long forgotten species that were cybernetically enhanced.  They inhabited a planet called Noxdorma.  The Eisenek were the last remaining species when their world shattered into hundreds of asteroids.  What remained of Eisenek were resurrected and brought to Valhalla by Revna to join the force she was gathering.

At one point, Revna captured Cornelius Breech, the Derelict Prince, and had his mind scanned to reveal the battle plans of the outlaw Pirates of the Crimson Fleet.  It appears that his usefulness ended and he was cast out to survive on his own. 

I got these beauties to grow and enhance my expanding Age of Annihilation Forces.  I think they are amazing, great sculpts, cool paint jobs, nice poses.  Very happy with the purchase!

Cornelius Breech

Eye Candy

Over the past few weeks, I've posted some photos of my nephew's WH40K models.  I am proud to share his fantastic work.  Here are four more models to feast your eyes upon.  Enjoy!