Saturday. (An Abby Gabs Video Blog)

My phone dinged as soon as I turned it on this morning. And I received a cheerful text from friend and fellow blogger, Laverne.

I'd never lie to Laverne So, here it is, readers. A video blog, all about my typical Saturday.




*If you can't see the video, click HERE, or point your browser to this link: http://youtu.be/AFgvGp021zM

**Also, if you're insanely jealous of the coolest coffee mug on the planet--it was a Hanukkah gift from Aunt Tina--never fear. You can buy a TARDIS mug HERE. (What you didn't see on the video is that it is a heat changing mug. Pour hot liquid into the mug, and the TARDIS disappears on one side, and reappears on the other. So. Freakin'. Cool.)

***Lastly, if you're curious about the music in my video blogs, today's featured songs are "Saturday's Child" by the Monkees, and "Hail to the Chief," played by the US Army Band. I own both songs, so don't sue me.

The End (For Real This Time) -- An Abby Gabs Video Blog

If you're still able to use a computer, and you want to see this video blog, but are having a hard time viewing it here, point your browser to: http://youtu.be/pYAgkhTAols

Thanks for watching!

The Day The TARDIS Came--A Story In Pictures

For the purposes of this tale, this is Abby:

And once upon a time, Abby was having a no-good, very-rotten, all-around-craptastic day. Nothing---not coffee, not chocolate, not even wine---made the day seem any better. Just when Abby thought the day was a total waste, she heard a strange sound rumbling in the distance...

"Whatever could it be?" she thought to herself.  As the sound grew nearer and nearer, it became more familiar to her, until suddenly, a strange blue phone box appeared right in the middle of her living room. Excitement coursed through her body as she realized who had come to rescue her from her no-good, very-rotten, all-around-craptastic day.

It was the Doctor!! And he'd brought along his companions, Amy and Rory!

"Hello there, Abby!," the Doctor greeted her warmly. "Seems like you're in a bit of cheering up. Perhaps you'd like a spot of tea?"

Abby, stunned into silence, shook her head no. She wasn't a stranger to the wonders of the time travel. In fact, she happened to be the World's Biggest Fan of the Doctor and his crew of misfits. And for the first time in her life, she finally had the opportunity to tell him just that. But...words seemed to fail her. So...

...Abby dashed to her closet...

...and re-emerged in an outfit that she hoped would express her total adoration for all things Whovian.

The reverie of complete and utter bonding was shattered when Amy cleared her throat...

And the Doctor announced the reason for his visit.

"My very own adventure?" Abby shouted. "REALLY?" Her mind whirled with possibilities...

"Doctor," Abby asked, in a terrible fake British accent. "Will we encounter many bad guys along the way?"

"Welllllll..." the Doctor said. "The universe IS filled with plenty of dangers and excitement! We'll just have to wait and see about that. But first thing's first. We have to choose a destination! So, Abby, author of Abby Gabs, believer in the stars....where would you like to go first?" The Doctor waggled his eyebrows at Abby suggestively. "Perhaps you'd like to visit Calufrax Minor? They have amazing gold mines there."

Abby shook her head.

"Alright then," the Doctor continued, undeterred. "Perhaps you'd like to walk on the face of Pluto? So you can properly mourn its deletion from the solar system as you know it?"

"That's nice, Doctor, but no. I don't think that's where I want to go." Abby replied.

"Very well then. I've got it!" The Doctor whipped around in a circle, then shot a toothy grin Abby's way. "You'll want to be visitin' New New New New New New New York!!! Every girl wants the shopping in New New New New New New New York!"

"Oh, I'm sure that's very posh, Doctor," Abby said. "But truthfully, there's only one place I really want to go today."

"Very well then," the Doctor said. "Out with it!"

Abby leaned over and whispered in the Doctor's ear. He grinned devilishly, then called out, "Alright, lads and lasses! Abby has chosen her destination! Let's be off then!"

Abby, Rory, Amy and the Doctor loaded into the TARDIS and off they went, spinning into space and time.

                                     ...a few hours later...

The End

I Don't Wanna

I mentioned in my last post that the internet has felt like a harsh place to be lately. I wish I could say I could simply turn my back on the world wide web and retreat into the peacefulness of my own life, but alas, that is not the case. Because you see, life has been somewhat harsh lately, too.

I've dealt with a barrage of hatefulness from my job in the last couple of weeks...from face-to-face interactions where people have hurled such insults that I feared I needed to duck:

To the kind of telephone conversations that make me want to plug my ears:

After eight hours of this sort of behavior, I wind up feeling exhausted, underpaid, under-appreciated, and feeling like I have the weight of the world on my shoulders. Or, more appropriately, the weight of the everybody else's problems on my shoulders.

Emotionally battered and bruised, I tend to shy away from life. I wake up in the mornings in an "I don't wanna" mood. "I don't wanna work. I don't wanna answer the phone. I don't wanna send late notices. I don't wanna call her back. I just don't wanna."

The don't wanna's tend to bleed into my personal life, as well. "I don't wanna do laundry. I don't wanna cook dinner. I don't wanna go anywhere today. I don't wanna write a blog. I don't wanna check my email. I just don't wanna."

The only thing I've wanted to do lately is close my eyes and pretend I'm somewhere else.

<Insert Wayne and Garth Flash Back Sound Effect Here>

...to be continued...

Doctor Who images courtesy of bigpicturesphoto.com. Angry birds images courtesy of webdesignhot.com.

Summertime Fun: An Abby Gabs List Blog

It's summertime. Isn't summertime great? Forget about the 100+ degree heat, the monstrous thunderstorms that leave us without power for hours, and the crazy tourist-caused traffic. With summer comes awesome farm fresh produce, glorious beach days, and lots of frosty alcoholic beverages.

Ice cold beer, anyone?

But as wonderful as all those things are, the best thing about THIS summer is the fact that I have Brian home from school. That means plenty of free time to do the things we've been meaning to do since, oh, let's say January of 2011. (Like purchasing an universal remote, going on vacation, and spending time with friends.) And when Brian packs up and heads off to work on weekends, I have plenty of time to obsess over a few little things of my own. Here's my list of 

Things We Do When We Have 

Lots of Free Time (Especially 

When It's Hot Outside.)

#1: Watch Doctor Who.

After plenty of prodding from fellow Geek Chic friends like Jenna and Tina, we finally broke down and started watching Doctor Who. (Thanks Netflix!) It took us about a month to watch all 6 seasons, and I can officially say we have earned our nerd cards. I can't tell you much about the series, (because, you know, SPOILERS...) but let me just say this. WE LOVED IT. The cheese factor, combined with compelling story lines, terrific one-liners, and the ultimate nerdgasm that is time travel---well, it's just the perfect show.

Those of you who are wise beyond your years and were already Doctor Who fans will probably want to know the answer to one burning question---who's our favorite Doctor? Well, I just can't choose. It's a toss up.

How can one choose between David Tennant and Matt Smith??? (Source)

We shout "alons y" in our house as often as we randomly say "Bowties are cool." But I'm really close to sporting a bowtie. And maybe even a fez.

Fezzes are cool, too.

#2: Play Plants Vs. Zombies.

Brian got me a Kindle Fire for my birthday.

See?

I could write an entire blog dedicated solely to my Kindle Fire, because it is, without a doubt, the coolest thing ever. However, there's one app in particular that is currently holding me spellbound. And that app is Plants vs. Zombies.

It's an OCD dream, this game. Planting pretty rows of plants to defend your home from zombies, mowing them down one by one...like I said...it's video game heaven. The part of my brain that drives my OCD is always happy and well-rested after a rousing round of virtual zombie-maiming gardening.

Source

And as if that's not enough to make a game great, then please let me introduce you to the in-house comedian of Plants vs. Zombies. It's your crazy neighbor, Crazy Dave. And each time he makes an appearance to share his zombie-slaying tips, he makes me laugh out loud. While searching for a video so you could hear him talk, I came across this little gem. Enjoy.

#3: Obsess Over Potential Hairstyles.

Ok, so this is something I do without Brian. Not that he isn't interested, he's just...not interested. 

So, let this serve as a warning to all my friends and family. I've decided to grow my hair out. Which means, for the next 3 to 5 months, you can expect me to look something like this:

Is that a goomba on your head, or are you just growing your hair out?

Thankfully, I have an awesome hairstylist (Hi Leeann!) who will laugh at my Super Mario Brothers' jokes as much as she will help me grow out my locks without adopting the Billy Ray Cyrus 'do. With this decision has come hours and hours of trolling the internet, looking for photos of what I might want my hair to look like next. (The giant walking mushroom with scraggly eyebrows look isn't exactly on my list.)

I'd like to personally thank whoever invented Pinterest, because with it I've found my "how it will look when it starts to get some length back" hairdo:

Source

...and my "cutey cute cute finished product hairdo:"

Source

Note to readers: No, I'm not going blonde. It's totally a coincidence that both hairstyles are sported by blondies. I'll be sticking with my natural dark brown color, which I love. Sorry to those who hoped I'd go pink.

#4: Play Mexican Train Dominoes.

Don't believe what you hear. Dominoes are so much cooler than you might believe. The game that changed my mind? Mexican Train Dominoes.

It may look simple. But when we play, it's cutthroat.

This game turns my normally kindhearted family into vicious, smack-talking competitors. And it all stems from the frustration of Brian's complete mastery of the game. 

You see, he always wins. Always. And this makes my brother, my Dad and I very, very, very angry. And then, when he walks away with another victory, he doesn't something smarmy.

Like posting the score sheets on my parents' fridge, taking a photo, posting it
to Facebook, and tagging the losers. 

Even though I always lose, this game is a must-have for dinner parties, lazy Sundays, and most any other occasion. However, I suggest you put your game face on. We don't mess around when it comes to dominoes. (Or Spitty-Outty-Sucky-Uppy Uno, for that matter.)

#5: Drink Margaritas.

Because tequila is a girl's best friend.

 Thus comes the end of my list. And so, inquiring minds want to know. What's going on at your house this summer? (If there's tequila involved, can I come?)