#fyapdx

[fyapdx]

Coloring book page of the flame tree from Jellicoe Road (1) and when Jude first saw Narnie (2).

+10 [AG]

[fyapdx]

Pie #1: Where: Blue Ribbon Diner; Burlington, NC What: Chess Pie (a southern treat) Verdict: The experience was akin to eating a very rich brownie in a mostly flavorless pie crust with a generous helping of whipped cream. Three bites basically sent me into a sugar coma! I wish there had been some type of nutty or salty element to cut the sweetness a bit. 7.5 out of 10

Pie #2: Where: K&W Cafeteria; Burlington, NC What: Buttered Coconut Pie Verdict: This scrumptious treat was a perfect balance of creamy, buttery and sweet with a flavorful crust. The coconut bits didn't overpower and provided a nice texture. 9 out of 10

Pie #3(&4): Where: Bannings Restaurant and Pie House; Tigard, OR What: Pie #1-Mixed Berry, Pie #2-Peanut Butter Verdict: The mixed berry pie was perfect for a toasty summer day. The berries seemed fresh, the crust was flavorful but not as crunchy as I would have liked. There was also a thin layer of what tasted like vanilla pudding that was a  nice touch. I give it a 9 out of 10! The peanut butter pie was super rich and creamy but not too sweet to overpower the senses. It was balanced out by a crumbly, cinnamon crust. It was my favorite pie followed closely by the mixed berry! 9.5 out of 10

+30 [AG]

[fyapdx]

Shelley went to NC, and had to celebrate with a Sarah Dessen book!

+1 [AG]

[fyapdx]

A playlist featuring "Weird Al" Yankovic, Molly Lewis, Monty Python, and others

FYAPDX and ATLFYA teamed up to provide Into the Wild Nerd Yonder’s Jessie with a nerdy musical education to aid in her new path to geekdom.  Here are our recommendations to her (and to you!).

1. YODA by Weird Al Yankovic (FYAPDX)

Okay, she’s probably heard of Weird Al before. But hanging out in nerdy circles, Jessi should get used to hearing a lot of his specifically nerdy versions of songs!

2. An Open Letter to Stephen Fry (Live) by Molly Lewis (ATLFYA)

Lewis’ Chop Chop is probably more in line with Jessie’s D&D interests, but we think this plea for impregnation by geek icon Stephen Fry is a hilarious and irreverent masterpiece (and has the added bonus of teaching Jessie about Jeeves).  

3. Galaxy Song by Monty Python (FYAPDX)

Another classic. But this is not only catchy, it is occasionally helpful in physics class! And establishes nerd cred quickly.

4. This Fantasy World by The Doubleclicks (ATLFYA)

This song about finding love through D&D could honestly be Jessie’s theme song about her relationship with Henry.  We have a feeling that The Doubleclicks will be Jessie’s new obsession, and might even be worthy of taking up some of the space on her iPod usually reserved for audiobooks.

5. Still Alive by Apature Science Psychoacoustic Laboratory (FYAPDX)

One of the most quotable computer games of all time comes to catchy life in this song of pure delight. And you can amuse your friends by singing ‘I’m being so - sincere - right now’ in appropriately sarcastic occasions!

6. Finite Simple Group (Of Order Two) by Klein Four (ATLFYA)

Math-loving Jessi wouldn’t just adore this song describing love through math functions, she’d also be a little mad that she didn’t think of the concept first.  Added nerdy bonus: acapella!

7. Why Does the Sun Shine by They Might Be Giants (FYAPDX)

Yet another song that hides physics help within catchy lyrics!

8. Do You Wanna Date My Avatar by Felicia Day and the cast of the Guild (ATLFYA)

This is about online gaming rather than tabletop, but most of the references are universal to any RPG.  Jessie would love the cheeky spin on dating/gaming, and we think the outfits in the music video would serve as inspiration next time she’s asked to design costumes for her fellow players.

9.  California Dorks (parody of California Girls by Katy Perry) by Skyway Flyer (FYAPDX)

By the end of the book, Jessie has learned to be less afraid of the labels put on people - she can love a nerd in white sneakers! So, she should really go crazy and belt out an anthem celebrating her dork-dom. Let your nerd flag fly, Jessie.

10. Mandelbrot Set by Jonathan Coulton (ATLFYA)

The Mandelbrot Set is a group of complex numbers where ‘c’... or rather, the sequence… erm, something about infinity.  But since Jessie won’t have to Google this like we did, she’ll fully appreciate this ode to one of the more popular examples of mathematical visualization (and hopefully she’ll follow this song up with even more JoCo).

+20 [AG]

[avlfya]

Promposal Playlist with FYAPDX

Saint Anything by Sarah Dessen 1) Lollipop by the Chordettes In honor of Layla's obsession with root beer and bubble gum Yum Yums (lollipops, Dum Dum). AVLFYA 2) St Teresa by Joan Osborne For Sydney’s own Saint Anything...Mac gives her a Saint charm to help her cope with life. AVLFYA 3) Carousel by Melanie Martinez Mac happens upon an old, abandoned carousel that becomes one of their hangout spots. AVLFYA 4) I Want It That Way covered by Dynamite Boy Mac's band starts covering old boy band songs and makes them more modern. So, we’ve got to include an old favorite (and even though Asheville loves NKOTB, the Backstreet Boys are a close second) that’s been made modern. AVLFYA 5) The Dirty French Fry by The Gold Magnolias Layla's French fries fetish is very intense (The Trifecta, anyone?). AVLFYA 6) We are Family by Sister Sledge A classic for all time, and Sydney definitely learns this lesson the hard way - but by the end she gets a little closer to her brother! FYAPDX 7) Charmer by Aimee Mann Sydney’s brother Peyton always got by on his charm… until he went too far. FYAPDX 8) That’s Amore sung by Dean Martin Would anyone in the world dating someone whose family owned a pizza parlor be able to resist singing this song constantly? PDX doubts it. FYAPDX 9.) Invisible sung by Jennifer Hudson Through much of the book Layla is used to feeling invisible: “I was used to being invisible. People rarely saw me, and if they did, they never looked close. I wasn't shiny and charming like my brother, stunning and graceful like my mother, or smart and dynamic like my friends.” This is an empowering song that also reflects how Sydney changes throughout the book with help of Layla and Mac. FYAPDX 10.) The Space Between by The Dave Matthews Band While this song is generally interpreted as being about two lovers the narrator can go back and forth between Sydney and her brother specifically when it talks about how she can’t “quit him so quickly” as well as Sydney and Mac with the line “take my hand ‘cause we’re walking out of here.” The lyric “love is all we need here” could also represent her tumultuous relationship with her family throughout the book and the healing that begins at the end. FYAPDX

[fyapdx]

Rose City Experience

Mashing was Smashing

Stylish I'm Not

Hosted the Party

Pictures were Tardy Cryptic Swinging Riddles

Kept us Together

The karaoke Stunt

Made some Grunt

End is Nigh

PDX says Goodbye

To something That...

Was pretty Fly

+5 [AG]

[fyapdx]

Lavender Lemon Drop Inspired by Leslye Walton’s The Strange and Beautiful Sorrows of Ava Lavender

In honour of Ava Lavender, since her life was always bittersweet.

2 oz vodka

1.5 oz lemon juice

1 oz lavender simple syrup

Sugar

Lemon wedge

Mix vodka, lemon juice, and lavender syrup. Shake with ice.

Pour into a martini glass, garnished with sugar and a lemon wedge!

Lavender Simple Syrup

1 cup water

1 cup sugar

¼ cup lavender blossoms (dried or fresh)

Mix water, sugar, and lavender.

Bring to a boil, then cool and strain.

MOCKTAIL:

Substitute 3.5 oz of your best homemade (not too sweet) lemonade in place of the vodka and lemon juice.

[fyapdx]

Lola likes dressing in quirky outfits so I thought the purple fascinator added something unique to the dress. Plus, it's colorful and sparkly-two things Lola loves. There is also a steampunk vibe to it which would be a perfect accessory for the girlfriend of someone in a rock band, along with the dark eyeliner. Lola also dresses according to her moods so I wore a blue dress with swirls of different shades to depict all the conflicting feelings she has when Cricket moves in next door. The darker shades represent the pain she experienced after he broke her heart with the lighter shades revealing a wistfulness and hope for the future.  I chose to add more flair to the top of the whole outfit showing an outer confidence and ending with bare feet to represent the vulnerable workings of her heart.

+10