#Tonight: Beer + Boobs + Brains = @Goalsportscafe

It's Tuesday nerderinos!

That means it's TRIVIA NIGHT AT GOAL!!!!

Come flex off those nerdy muscles with some random trivia - and it's SO GOOD AT GOAL!!!

Goal is located at 8334 West 3rd street in LA (zip code: 90048), and because you guys rock it so hardcore, the owners are also going to be giving us specials!!

Yep, we have $5 stellas, $5 vodka drinks and $5 appetizers.

So come on down tonight! Festivities start at 8:30!!!

Everyone in LA is invited. So come on down for all things awesome, and I can't WAAIIIITTTTT to kick it with you guys tonight.

Tweet me if you have any questions, problems, or whatevs - @JenFriel

SO MUCH FREAKING LOVE!!!!! See your faces tonight!!

#nerdsunite

They're Talking Nerdy Baby: #NerdsUnite

OOOOHHHH the wonderfulness of life that grants gifts of awesomeness like this in my inbox in ze morning. Check check 'er out! 

First off, thank you so so much for reading and thank you so so much for reaching out. Incredibly brave on all fronts. (FTR this is the post this email is referencing) 

Noah's story wasn't easy to write out but I felt it was important since technically speaking it has to date been my only "committed" relationship. (Funny because I WAS committed during our relationship.) 

The hell I lived in for 24 years was the hell I created for myself. I was so esconced in anxiety, and depression, that I LITERALLY had no idea how to escape. I didn't want to die, I just had NO idea how to live. 

My parents had taken me to doctor after doctor but it wasn't until I decided THROUGH AND THROUGH FOR MYSELF to make a change that my life has since done a 180. 

I didn't want to die that day, or even the other time I tried killing myself - I. just. wanted. an. escape. from. the. pain. 

What was the escape? Following my bliss!! 

I don't at all consider what I did brave, I LITERALLY didn't have an option. I SUUCCKKKEEEDDD at dying so instead of focusing on that, why not focus on life and living every. single. day. like it was my last. (Especially since if I had succeeded it WOULD have been my last.) 

No one is going to come up to you and give you this gift of this perfect life. No doctor, no job, no boyfriend ... nothing. It is YOU that has to step up TO YOUR OWN PLATE that will get shit done. 

Social media made me soooooooooooo happy!! I GREW UP online (from Prodidy, AOL and yahoo chats). The fact that this was now cool was SUCH a paradigm shift. You owe it to yourself and ONLY to yourself to lead the life you want to lead. I'm SCARED SHITLESS doing what I do everyday but I keep showing up for myself and showing up for my OWN LIFE and based on the purity and love in my heart - the universe keeps granting all of my wishes. 

YOU. HAVE. TO. LET. GO. 

Trust me, your bliss is waiting. 

Next doable action: Follow what feels good. The answers to every question you could ever have in life is already inside of you. By following the path of whatever "feels good" step by step, life will be unfolded to you. 

Live like you are dying ... because guess what? you are! 

#love

Got a question? Email is the best way for me to respond: JenFriel at talknerdytomelover d c

#Adventures in Randomness and Rock & Roll w @leah_cevoli

<editorsnote> Nerds, meet my buddy Leah. She's pretty rad and has an INCREDIBLY random life. Like, no - for reals ... did you know she has an obsession with vampires, psychics, and tarot card readers ... and she had more sex as a teenager than in her 30s ... anddddd she even had two ex boyfriends die violently - one from a heroin overdose, and the other was murdered. Holy moly roli poli oli - that shit be cray cray. Either way, she's now here to write about her life, love, and all things nerd. I only have one more thing left to say ... HIT IT LEAH!! </editorsnote>

#TalkNerdyToMeLover's @Leah_Cevoli

A month ago,  I was having the time of my life at Comic Con.  I was signing autographs with #GeekGirlsCreate, speaking on a panel with the Most Dangerous Women of Comic Con, and running around with Team Space Command, organizing signings, parties, and street teams.   It was totally amazing.

I was having a noticeable shift in personal and professional friends and associates.  I’ve noticed that when you’re on a path of creativity and tier-jumping, the universe does that, every so often, POOF, people disappear from your life, other people arrive, and still other people become more prominent.  Since going into “gypsy mode” in May, I’ve had some of the largest shifts in friends group that I can remember happening in a long time. 

When you’re in a “time of need” it’s always interesting to see who’s got your back.  Hands down my friend Michele Fisher wins the gold medal on this one, with my friend Dylan Forer coming in with the silver.  Michele provided me with shelter aka her cozy couch, and Dylan, is responsible for referring me to 90% of all the freelance music-related gigs I booked this summer.  Thank you Michele and Dylan.

But more than that, I feel like I found some life-long friends and associates, something I have been craving for a very long time in LA.  I’m single.  I’m without a BFF. And, my family is 3000 miles away.  In 2010 when I took a roadtrip/hiatus back East, I was feeling alone not only in my romantic life, but also in my professional life.A one woman show, in all areas of my life.

Yet, as I spent the past few months in gypsy mode,  other things in my life began shifting. 

I couldn’t imagine life without my weekly trivia nights, with the Talk Nerdy To Me Lover Team.  I was blessed and connected with the Space Command Team, taking a position as their Social Media Manager, and having 3, sometimes 4 hour Sunday lunches with those based in LA.  And then there’s  Denise Vasquez. A soul-sister who’s been travelling in the same circle as me for a decade, yet we only recently met via the Geek Girls Create panel at Wonder Con. This girl whole-heartedly welcomed me into her life and introduced me to her circle, all of whom are just completely amazingly creative, productive people.

I had more then one person comment on “how happy I looked”, and considering the financial and living situations happening in my life, was pretty laughable. Yet, I was.

And then… I got a phone-call offering me a 20-week long tour managing gig based out of Philly (my hometown).  And before I knew what was happening I was packing up my things, making arrangements to rent my car, buying a plane ticket for my cat, and heading on planes and trains, for a training session in Boston.

Before I headed East, @JenFriel and I discussed this at Trivia night… this openness and willingness to just say yes to something that I hadn’t foresaw, something that wasn’t planned, and frankly something I wasn’t even sure I really wanted to do.  Yet, it was an adventure, and the universe was presenting me with a way to become financially secure again, in only a few months time.  In my hometown of all places.

I had already had a flight to come East for most of August to meet my brand new nieces, but now this company was offering to change my fare and fly me back sooner (and stay longer) to take this position.

I was going with the flow.  Not questioning why. Not analyzing my options. Simply going with the flow… and the flow, all the sudden was about to take me over a waterfall, down an entire different branch of the creek I was happily rafting in.

And Jen reminded me.. this is how it works, you have to go with the flow. You have to say yes.

So I did. And I’m currently working my ASS off, 6 days a week, long days, crazy manual labor, as a tour manager for a promotional campaign.

I’m driving a 16 foot by 12 foot box truck, around the East Coast for a promotional campaign.  Yet, last month I was signing autographs at Comic Con.

Some people might not be willing to admit that.  There’s a lot of smoke and mirrors in Hollywood. Fake it till you make it.  But the truth is, I’m not too proud to admit, that sometimes I have to step away from the film projects, the web-series, the panels, the parties,  and take a job, that I may not like yet alone love, in order to be able to survive, and continue to pursue my dreams.  (side note: this reminds me of this interview w/Bob Bergen in 2010-- http://youtu.be/mzw7zM1e9wo  )

And that’s when going with the flow is most important… Would I rather be back in Los Angeles with Michele, Denise, Team Space Command and Team Talk Nerdy To Me, Lover? Absolutely.  But right now, in this moment, I have an opportunity to save up more money then I have had in my bank account since college.

And what that means, is when I return West, I won’t be worried about where the next paycheck is coming in, I’ll have a cushion. I’ll be able to get back to classes with Katt Shea and Bonnie Gillespie. I’ll be able to get a yoga and pilates membership, and maybe even sign up for Intermediate Fire Dancing. (Check me out-- in 2010 http://tinyurl.com/8p5grae )

I’ll be able to wake up knowing that I have my basic needs met.

I’m not married. I have no children. The only person’s happiness I’m responsible for is my own. And for far too long, I’ve lived under constant financial duress. I’m not complaining, I haven’t had a 9-5 long-term day gig since the late 90’s, I have had many, many adventures. What I am doing is honoring my worth in my chosen career, no longer working on deferred and free projects, and things are shifting. I’m being offered more SAG projects, films and web-series with roles written specifically for me, and I am super excited about shooting Legendary later this year….

My head is still spinning at how quick and unplanned this trip was, I'm one of the most adventurous, spontaneous, people I know... but this... was totally unplanned.

Live Love. Love Life.

#xoxo

click here to follow Leah on twitter!

#NerdsUnite: The secret life of a veterinary technician

<editorsnote> Nerds, meet my buddy Lindsay. She and I met ... well, somewhere in the social space. I think we might have started talking through this site directly, then through facebook - maybe ... I'm not sure. But she's awesome. I talk to her on twitter almost every day, and she's really rad and TOTALLY a big huge animal lover. Like crazy huge!! In these series of posts she will be talking about her life and random adventures with sometimes more than two legged creatures. I guess there's only one more thing left to say ... HIT IT LINDSAY!!</editorsnote>

#TalkNerdyToMeLover's @TheCraftafarian

We are still hanging in there! The boyfriend has been getting around 20 hours the last two weeks at work so we are headed in the right direction. However somehow we neglected to pay our cable/internet bill and that has been disconnected. Sad times, luckily we both have iPhones and therefore internet.

Thanks to some help from parental units I am still going to start school this semester. I officially registered for veterinary medical terminology and made my first payment--I still have to order my book but I have about a week till class starts. I’m really excited! I’ve been a vet tech for almost 13 years and I am on my way to earning my license! this also means I will be able to attend conferences for a discounted rate! Eventually (I recently decided this) I will go to vet school. :)

Today I went to the Aveda beauty school for a friend as a hair model (she’s a student) and got a new haircut/style. My hair is really thick and since she’s a student and has to check in with the instructors it took forever!! But it was free, kinda, they ask that you do make some purchase when you have services done so I got a roll-on tube of natural headache oil stuff. I already have something similar so I knew I would like it. My hair had gotten so long and the girl took off about 6 inches in length then a bunch all over by putting in tons of layers. I wanted to cut it shorter but my boyfriend would die (oh the things I do to keep him happy--well he does deal with my crazy ^.^). It’s kind of short in the front but I really like it. So that was fun.

I finally listed a few pairs of earrings I made on my etsy shop. (www.etsy.com/shop/craftafarian) I use natural gem stones and hypoallergenic metal when possible. $1 from every sale goes to a non-profit animal advocacy group: currently our local SPCA. The rest will go to supplies and other bills. Eventually my kitty needs surgery and the money will go towards that. One thing at a time.

My damn phone died partway thru the haircut so I should be able to share photos next time! Next week (Thursday evening) I will photographing my friends very first art exhibit during a gallery hop in Downtown Orlando.

<3 Lindsay

#nerdsunite

Click here to follow Lindsay on Twitter!

#NerdsUnite: Violent Gamer Review (Spelunky)

<editorsnote> Nerds, meet my buddy Sean. He has a really rad site called Violent Gamer, and he's here today to talk about some of the latest and greatest in the gaming industry. I only have one more thing left to say ... HIT IT SEAN !!</editorsnote>

#TalkNerdyToMeLover's @violent_gamer

There are so many ways to die in Spelunky and as frustrating at it is, it is so very fun. I've earned fifty deaths in the XBLA version of this rogue-like platformer and I still love it. If you are a PC Gamer you may have played the free PC version at some point or another, which can now be played in your browser, and the developers are still updating that. Derek Yu is still the main developer, but he also has two other people working with him on the game. The Xbox Live Arcade version does have a bit different than the PC version and let me spend a paragraph explaining some of those differences, but before I go into that, a quick explanation for those who don't know of Spelunky.

Spelunky is a game that harnesses the idea of being Indiana Jones and exploring a dangerous treasure filled world of snakes, spiders, skeletons, hornets, frogs, snowmen and so much more. You start in the mines and you make your way further and further down, eventually reaching the jungle, then the ice caverns, then the temple. Each time you enter a level it is randomly generated so every time you go through an area it feels unique. When you die, which is very easy to do and you will die a lot, you start over from the beginning with nothing other than four bombs and four ropes, which you always start with. Each time you enter a new section, like the jungle or ice caverns, there is a man who approaches you and asks for some supplies. If you give him enough supplies you can unlock shortcuts to each area, but the supplies get harder to obtain as you get farther down and you can only give him one thing per playthrough, so you can't instantly unlock a shortcut even if you have tons of money, bombs, ropes and whatever else. It is a very hard game, but the challenge is immensely enjoyable in the same way that people enjoy games like Dark Souls or Dwarf Fortress.

When I first started playing Spelunky on XBLA I thought that multiplayer was online and local, but I was disappointed to learn that it is only local. Local multiplayer is plenty of fun, but it is pretty restrictive, especially in adventure mode. There is a deathmatch mode, but it isn't too exciting without at least two other people and adventure mode feels like the main attraction of multiplayer. In adventure mode you can play with three other players and the screen is focused just on the first player, so if you accidently lose other players then you only have a short period of time to find them or they will die. However, death isn't a huge deal in multiplayer.You can find coffins, like the ones in singleplayer, but these coffins will bring back other players and while they are dead they act as ghosts. As ghosts you can set off traps, move objects, disturb enemies and just generally mess with the environment. Multiplayer is pretty good, even without split screen, but it would be even more enjoyable if you could play with friends over Xbox Live.

If you want to check out Spelunky in action and even with Derek Yu, the main developer, then take a look at this video by Rev3Games. It is lovely and it appropriately expresses my own frustration at the games difficulty, but I wouldn't dare make it easier. The video is fairly long, 18 minutes, but skip to six minutes in it if you want to just see the XBLA version being played by Derek.

Last Comments

Spelunky is awesome, that is all. If you like platformers you really need to give it a try and it does have a demo like all XBLA games. If you happen to like platformers and rogue-like games that have permadeath, then Spelunky is especially for you and you should be able to love it so much that it might just justify the outrageous cost of Xbox Live. If you don't have a Xbox 360, do try the free PC version. Sure it isn't as pretty, but it is still impressive and possibly even more challenging due to the controls. Spelunky costs $15 on XBLA and it is one of my favorite games of the year so far. Thanks for checking it out and reading. 

Main Website: http://spelunkyworld.com/

Violent Score: 4.5 (out of 5)

If multiplayer was a little bit better, and online instead of local only, then this would have been a perfect score. 

-Written by Sean Cargle