Long Live Geeks

Merry Christmas to All!

noreply@blogger.com (Anastasia) — Thu, 24 Dec 2009 18:42:00 +0000

As everyone in Christmas town crowds around the beautiful Christmas tree, the big guy himself takes the opportunity to make his Christmas Eve visit. This year Santa has upgraded to a rocket sled! He should be able to get in and out without anyone catching him... just as it should be :)

We hope you've had as much fun with our adventures as as have! Christmas town and Long Live Geeks wish all of you a very Merry Christmas!!!

O Christmas Tree

noreply@blogger.com (Anastasia) — Wed, 23 Dec 2009 23:49:00 +0000

It looks like our wish was granted! The woodcutter has brought a Christmas tree to Christmas town. Just in time too! Only one more day of Legos then Christmas will be here :) Everyone in town is wasting no time in enjoying the new tree :)

Christmas is Coming!

noreply@blogger.com (Anastasia) — Wed, 23 Dec 2009 00:12:00 +0000

Our friend who was checking out the Santa-readiness of Christmas town's chimneys yesterday appears to have some new tools, a chainsaw and a stand to hold wood. Hmm, I can think of a better use for that chainsaw than just making big pieces of wood smaller. Maybe he could help get us a Christmas tree?!? :)

Up on the Rooftop

noreply@blogger.com (Anastasia) — Mon, 21 Dec 2009 16:33:00 +0000

After the race Bob decided to trade in his skates for the quad. I guess his legs were getting tired :) Jasper's back in the sled, and Todd and Charlie are enjoying a rest after the big race. The newest resident of Christmas town seems to be up on the roof. What could he be doing? Why checking the safety of the chimneys for Santa of course :)

The Race is On!

noreply@blogger.com (Anastasia) — Sun, 20 Dec 2009 19:25:00 +0000

Santa truly came early. A reindeer dropped off a second car, a flag, and some traffic cones. Todd and Charlie set everything up for the race of the season. Around the cones and first one back wins!

Todd gets his red car out in front first! Go Todd go!

As they near the cones, Charlie gains ground!

Todd's cornering skills get him around the cones first. It's going to be a race to the flag!

Go cars go!

And the winner is...

Charlie! He's had a lot of practice with his car, and today all of it paid off. Way to go Charlie!

Vroom Vroom!

noreply@blogger.com (Anastasia) — Sat, 19 Dec 2009 17:21:00 +0000

A new citizen wanders into Christmas town today. Charlie thought we'd have some fun playing with his remote controlled car. Watch it go!

A Fountain?

noreply@blogger.com (Anastasia) — Fri, 18 Dec 2009 22:23:00 +0000

Today's a rather funny day in our Lego town. It seems that someone built a fountain while we weren't looking. Unfortunately it's a little cold for fountains at this time of year. It froze immediately! Oh well. It'll be nice to look at in the summer :)

Oh the Weather Outside is Frightful

noreply@blogger.com (Anastasia) — Thu, 17 Dec 2009 23:32:00 +0000

On day 17 the sweeper finds this nice cart to help him with his work, complete with a snow shovel just in case more of that white stuff finds its way to Christmas town. So far we have a few more sprinkles, but no big snowstorm. We never know what the weather has in store for us though. We wouldn't want too much snow or we might lose the snowman in it! :)

Sweep!

noreply@blogger.com (Anastasia) — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 22:45:00 +0000

It's the last chance to do a little tidying up before Christmas, and a sweeper has come to help. Or maybe he is looking for a curling game and got lost :) Hey, the snowman has a broom of his own. Maybe he can help too? :)

Just in Time

noreply@blogger.com (Anastasia) — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 01:24:00 +0000

All that winter fun was wearing the citizens of Christmas town out! Lucky for them a nice bench appeared today. It's just the place for Todd to sit while he enjoys his mug of hot chocolate. Jasper thought he'd take a moment to catch up with his old friend. There is no rest for the snowman however! The policeman is off duty for a while, and it's his turn to go sledding!

Business is Sweet

noreply@blogger.com (Anastasia) — Mon, 14 Dec 2009 14:44:00 +0000

The chef had an amazing response to his first hot chocolate sales endeavor. Enough in fact to open his own hot chocolate stand! The citizens of Christmas town can warm up with a mug of hot chocolate any time they please. It looks like Todd's back for seconds already!

14 days of Legos down, 10 to go. That means 11 days until Christmas. I can't wait :)

Chocolate Time!

noreply@blogger.com (Anastasia) — Sun, 13 Dec 2009 21:58:00 +0000

I can not imagine anything better after a day of winter fun than a mug of hot chocolate. Apparently neither can the citizens of Christmas town! Today the chef rolls into town to pass out hot chocolate to one and all. Even Bob has to get in on this delicious treat! Just make sure not to get too much of the hot chocolaty goodness near the snowman. We want him around for many days to come :)

An Early Delivery

noreply@blogger.com (Anastasia) — Sat, 12 Dec 2009 17:03:00 +0000

Todd and the policeman are working out their differences. It seems the policeman is able to grant Todd a temporary holiday riding license. What luck! :) During all the commotion it appears someone made an early delivery to Christmas town. What could be in the package? I guess we have to wait 13 more days to find out. You know a package like that needs a Christmas tree. I hope one of those arrives soon!

A Snowman's Work is Never Done

noreply@blogger.com (Anastasia) — Sat, 12 Dec 2009 00:45:00 +0000

The snowman is back on sled duty because Todd couldn't way to try out this new set of wheels! On day 11, a quad comes to Christmas town, and Todd is the first lucky one to get to try it out. It looks like the policeman wants to check Todd's driver's license. Oh no! :)

On the 10th day of Legos...

noreply@blogger.com (Anastasia) — Fri, 11 Dec 2009 01:09:00 +0000

An old friend of Todd's heard about the holiday fun in Christmas town and couldn't wait to join in. Jasper jumped on the sled and was off! Todd and Jasper look like they could spend all day sledding up and down main street in Christmas town :)

Race to the Finish

noreply@blogger.com (Anastasia) — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 01:41:00 +0000

When we left our friends yesterday Bob and the snowman had lined up for a race. It's skates against snowball sliding in this winter event.

The light turns green, and they're off! The snowman slides his way into an early lead.

Bob turns on the juice and races ahead. Can he keep this up to win?!

It's a photo finish!!!

The snowman pulled ahead at the last minute to win the winter race. Way to go, snowman!

Ready. Set. Go!

noreply@blogger.com (Anastasia) — Wed, 09 Dec 2009 00:19:00 +0000

Bob decided to test his skills against the best, or at least the coldest, member of Christmas town and challenged the snowman to a race. It's skating verses sliding in this winter escapade.
The Lego PD brought out a traffic barrier to help keep everyone safe, and Todd is waiting at the finish line. I wonder who will get there first?! :)

A Friend in Need

noreply@blogger.com (Anastasia) — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 23:55:00 +0000

Todd's ice skating days may have been short lived, but his friendship with the snowman will last a lifetime. Or at least until the temperature gets above freezing! :)

Hearing of the accident, a member of the Lego PD showed up to help. Currently he's holding back the traffic while the snowman pushes Todd back to the skate rental booth. I think Todd has had enough of those skates for one season.

7 days down, 17 more to go. I can't wait to find out what happens next :)

Decorating for the Holidays

noreply@blogger.com (Anastasia) — Sun, 06 Dec 2009 20:49:00 +0000

Christmas town is rolling out their holiday decorations with the addition of the holly-decked lamp post. Just in time too. Night is coming earlier and earlier these days. No need to go inside at sunset with the new lamp.

I wonder if Todd wishes he had not given skating a try? :)

Time for a Skating Party!

noreply@blogger.com (Anastasia) — Sun, 06 Dec 2009 04:59:00 +0000

A skate rental stand has opened up in Christmas town. For all of the sportspeoples out there, they can join in on the skating fun. It looks like Todd is anxious to try out a pair. I wonder if they come in snowman size? :)

Zoom!

noreply@blogger.com (Anastasia) — Fri, 04 Dec 2009 23:39:00 +0000

I almost missed our newest Christmas town resident. Bob the ice skater flew by just as I was ready to snap a picture. He's busy making figure eights in the Legos as we speak. Maybe we'll see him later, but I have a feeling this guy doesn't stay in one place for very long!

Dashing through the Legos

noreply@blogger.com (Anastasia) — Fri, 04 Dec 2009 00:46:00 +0000

Day 3 in the Lego wonderland brings us a sled! It looks like Todd and the snowman have wasted no time in trying out their new toy. Who's Todd, you ask? The fellow that joined us on day 1. He finally told me his name :)

Let it Snow...Man!

noreply@blogger.com (Anastasia) — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 01:24:00 +0000

I'm not sure there's enough snow on the ground yet to account for this guy:

He must have parachuted in. He probably heard about the great Christmas fun in our Lego village and wanted to join in :)

Counting Down to Christmas

noreply@blogger.com (Anastasia) — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 01:31:00 +0000

I've been a lackadaisical blogger lately. Okay, a non-existent blogger. That's what happens when work decides to eat up my life. I am however starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel and I want to celebrate by counting down to my favorite holiday of the year - Christmas!!! :)

This year I got a totally cool advent calendar, one full of Legos! Here it is.

And here's the Lego city I built to host it in:

I've had the calendar sitting in my house for a couple of weeks. Today I finally got to open it! :)

So what's behind door number 1? This guy! And he brought a few snowflakes with him :)

I can't wait for tomorrow and door number 2!

How I Spent My Summer: G1 Edition

noreply@blogger.com (Anastasia) — Wed, 19 Aug 2009 22:23:00 +0000

Sorry for the long delay in posting! I think I spent half my summer running in circles, and the other half running backwards. Gotta unwind somehow! :)

While I was traveling here, there, and everywhere, I had the opportunity to put my G1 through its paces. It kept me company while I was waiting for flights in airports, riding in the car, hanging around at my family's house, and otherwise away from my computer. Using my G1 as my primary Internet source for several days at a time was a new experience for me, one which I'm happy to report worked out very well. I didn't experience 'net withdrawal even once ;)

K-9 mail is my friend :) I previously mentioned that I was using it for email with limited success. Since then a couple of updates have been released and I've had no problems at all. Every so often the top left LED on the G1 blinks to let me know I have mail. I can get to K-9 easily from the notification bar, and my new email is there waiting for me. While I wouldn't want to type a 6-page love letter on the G1's keyboard, K-9 adequately handles outgoing mail as well. I would not hesitate to leave my self in K-9's capable hands again should the need to go AFK arise.

I continue to be impressed by the Android web browser. Even after a half hour or more of use it never once gave me out of memory warnings. And given the screen real estate it has to work with, it renders most pages beautifully. I used the browser to find the new location of my favorite New Orleans bakery. (Gambinos!) And to look up times for the Medieval Times dinner and joust in Atlanta.

Of course I couldn't stay away from video games the entire time I was running in circles, and the one I played the most was Parallel Kingdom. The Kingdom's recently gotten some new residents. The traveling monks sell journals in which one's achievements are recorded. The monks will then trade full journals for new skills. Spiders have infested many areas. Killing them is tough, but the silk is worth it. And adventurers will find tougher monsters to do battle with. The thing that really made PK shine during my travels though was all the new areas I visited. I play regularly around my house, but things around here don't seem to change that much. Being in new cities gave me the chance to explore new terrain! Take out new enemies! And see sights far beyond what is available in my usual stomping ground.

I did also get one new app this summer, the G1 version of Documents To Go. So far this is the only app I've actually paid for. I haven't done too much with it yet, but before my new bowling season starts (next week!), I'll be setting up a spreadsheet to keep track of my average. I was a little dismayed that the Android OS did not come with any way to open Word or Excel documents when I bought it, or even give me access to my Google Docs, beyond just being able to see them. That was the only thing I missed when I switched from Windows Mobile. So I'd been keeping an eye on the Android Market, and when Documents To Go showed up, I snapped it up. The lite version is free, but only allows opening and viewing files. I opted for the standard version. It's $30 price tag is a little steep, but I've used earlier versions of Documents To Go on other price tags, and found it to be a great program. I'll report back in a few months about how this version fairs :)

So that's how I spent my summer vacation! How about you? Anyone discover any great Android apps? New video games? Visit somewhere special? Or just spend a nice day by the pool? :)