Budget Entertainment for Geeky Kids

CHEAP-ISH THINGS I'M DOING WITH MY CHILD THIS SUMMER

By Jenn Kelly

We are a one-person-working-two-jobs family, so when it's time to entertain my child for the summer because school is out, I need to be frugal but fun. I'm talking about 'almost ten' kind of fun. For a smart, inquisitive, conscientious boy who likes to blow things up.  

1- Rebuilding LEGO

Yes, it does sound boring.  However, if you can take their specially built models and create a mass-attack of Darth Vader invoking carnage on the superheroes and Emmett, you've got a kid immediately filled with imagination. Destroy built Lego carefully, you don't want them freaking because you overdid it. My dining room table was left like this for a week. We made videos. 

Or you can ask them to build things. For example, my son started building our home. Each room. And then took a photo. The detail was incredible.

2- Crossfit

Yes, you can exercise with your child. How else can you both stay in shape and have them burn off extra energy?  If they don't want to exercise, make them. No seriously, make them.  My kid always beats me in the chin-up competition. 

3- Cross-Stitching

I can hear you laughing.  Every child needs to learn how to sew. They can't be handing you their shirt and button at 22 years old.  Check out this site for Star Wars patterns. You can buy the white cheesecloth stuff, some embroidery thread for less than 10$ and all you do is draw on the stencil with a marker.  This teaches your child patience, dexterity and other uses for their hands instead of video games.

4- The Drive-In.

The Port Elmsley drive-in is the coolest. Yes, it's about an hour from Ottawa. Admission is $11 for adults, kids aged 5-12 are $4 and babies are free. They have an incredible snack shack (get the poutine!) a play structure for the kids while you're waiting for the movies to start, and clean bathrooms. Bring your own snacks, a sleeping bag and pillows! This weekend is the second 'Planes' movie and then 'Malificent'! Movies every single night until labour day. Bring window screen and tape so you can keep your windows rolled down.

Jenn Kelly likes to be original. Just like everyone else.

How to Become a S.H.I.E.L.D Agent: Avengers in Times Square

HOW TO BECOME A S.H.E.I.L.D AGENT: AVENGERS IN TIMES SQUARE

By Jenn Kelly

I'm a huge 'Avengers' fan. Not ridiculously huge, like, I have mementos all over my house, but I love the show and the movies. So when the boys and I found out they were having a wickedly-cool exhibit at the Discovery Times Square, we knew we had to visit. I just want to clarify that we were already in Manhattan. We didn't make a special trip.

The exhibit opened at the end of May, and Stan Lee, yes THE Stan Lee, loved it. We bought our tickets in advance (about $80 with a discount) and arrived there 10 minutes before opening. They have 'timed' visits by the way. 

We were allowed to take one photo outside. Unfortunately there were no photos allowed in the actual exhibit. 

Upon arrival, you were instructed to create your own 'badge'. My child calls me, 'Bad Mommy'. Don't ask.

Then you were brought into a room where you were debriefed about the situation. All employees were dressed as S.H.I.E.L.D team and they even saluted. Which of course, the kids loved. And me. I saluted right back. Because I'm awesome like that.

Testing room where you complete 4 tests. Strength test in hand-squeezing a lever; arm strength test in rotating a wheel as fast possible; reflex test in tapping on the 'bad guys' on the computer screen; and the fourth was your weight (thanks). Your results were compared to Steve Rogers a.k.a. Captain America. Of course, you failed. It had glass cabinets filled with Captain America trading cards, his shield, his costume and his gorgeous leather jacket.

They had a 'Hulk Room', where the computers took your thumbprint sample and showed how your DNA exposure to simulated radiation would result in you too, becoming like the Hulk. It allowed you to use the special ipad to 'control' the Hulk's movements in punching, jumping up and down and banging your hands together loudly to create a sonic boom.  They had the 'Ironman' room where you could 'become' like Ironman with special eye-sensors to blow up planes attacking you; or you could watch yourself be clothed in his costume and try out the thrusters. They had Thor and Loki costumes and even Loki's staff! And when asked where Mjölnir was, we were informed that it was not on loan from Asgard. I was skeptical about the costumes, asking if they were actually used, and I was told yes. But hubby said they winked at him later, so I'm slightly doubtful. They had a write-up on each Avenger - Black Widow, Hawkeye, Nick Fury, Howard Stark, Margaret Carter..

At the end of the two hour tour, we could have stayed an extra hour, playing with the computers that searched space for life and for other planets, there was the gift shop with their $35 t-shirts, of which I'm regretting not purchasing. And of course, you can also pay anywhere between $15-$75 for your group photo with the Avengers. We chose the cheaper version. At least I look all bad-ass. For a mom wearing a skirt.

Worth it? Absolutely. Even with the four 'games' not working. 

Jenn Kelly is a mom. And wife. And is currently devouring 'X-Men' novels.

Writing the Geek Novel: Part Two

WRITING THE GEEK NOVEL PART TWO: ENVIRONMENT

Hello fellow Geek Writers! As you may recall, last month we covered creating your characters for your novel. Today we will work on environment.

Now before you get all excited about your newly created world, I need to stress that your world is NOT more important than your story.  As cool as you can make your world, whatever wonderful things it has, including purple unicorns that grant wishes but steal your fingers, is not your story.  Your story should be able to be told anywhere, regardless of the world. That being said, let's have some fun:

WHAT KIND OF WORLD IS IT?

Is it completely different than ours, like Middle Earth? Or is it our world, but different, like Hogwarts?  The cool thing about Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. is that it's our world in the 'now'. Nothing is different. Except people have crazy powers and can blow things up with their brains or things shooting out of their brains. Or arms.  Is it different place but can be accessed, like through a wardrobe or a portal?  

WHEN DOES THIS STORY TAKE PLACE?

If you're looking at medieval times, you need to get the facts down of how they lived and what they wore. If you're looking for a 'Noir' novel, make sure you get the type of gun and bullets down pat. If it's the future - utopian, dystopian -  how did that happen? Also, dystopia is very crowded right now. You might want to give it a few years and try again later. 

WHAT DOES THE WORLD SAY ABOUT YOUR PROTAGONIST?

Does it change who they are/become?  The character's history up to this very point, will affect the created world.  How does this world challenge your characters? How does your protagonist view the world?  Look for internal and external obstacles. Frodo was challenged in leaving the Shire.  And then every bloody thing created in Middle Earth tried to kill him. 

HOW DOES YOUR WORLD WORK?

The rules of magic, the rules of punishment, the rules of leaders, the rules of logic, gravity, time-travel, space speed and mind-reading.  You need to be very firm on your created rules and do NOT change them.  Because then your reader will accuse you of 'copping-out' and throw the book across the room.  Do not preach or  spend too much time directly comparing your world to the real world. Your job is to make the readers come away satisfied, and maybe appreciate their own surroundings just a little bit more. 

Next time we will cover plot. Happy writing!

Jenn Kelly is a writer is on hiatus because she's discovering the world of board games.

Writing the Geek Novel: A Multi Part Series

WRITING THE 'GEEK' NOVEL  PART ONE: CHARACTERS

by Jenn Kelly

There are way too many books written on how to write a novel/story.  I should know ... I own about twenty of them.  But I have created my own cheat-sheet and am willing to share with you, my fellow geek writers. So let's do it, my way. The first thing you need when creating a story is...

PROTAGONIST: 

You remember this big word from school - the hero.  Who is your main character?  Write out her entire description.  Looks, age, shoe size, height, eye colour, favourite foods/books/hang-outs/gun.  Where does she live? Write everything out about her so that you know exactly what she looks like.  Now write out three strengths that she has. Is she scientifically brilliant a la Jemma Simmons? Is she a butt-kicking ninja a la Melinda May?  Is she a devious hacker a la Skye? I'm choosing characters from 'Agents of Shield' because they are perfectly contrasting characters and they make up all the generalizations of characteristics usually used in novels. Plus it's an awesome show.  While choosing your three strengths, you need to be imaginative as possible.  Maybe your ninja makes a mean spaghetti.  What does cooking have to do with ninja-fighting? Nothing. But it makes your ninja more relatable to the reader, because now the spaghetti-makers believe that they can be ninjas too. Dream big here. And feel free to steal ideas from other characters that you admire. In fact, what are three things do you love about yourself?

Next are your protagonist's three weaknesses. Now for this, I want you to be as mean as possible.  Pretend you don't like the hero and you want them to fail. Yes, you can pick something cute, like they're clumsy, but honestly, it is so overdone and so typical and YOU are going to change the world with your writing, so focus on being different.  An example for your brilliant scientist is that you can make them greedy.  Greedy for selfish reasons, not 'Robin Hood' reasons.  Why are you doing this? Because NO ONE wants to read about a perfect hero. They're annoying and we cannot possible ascertain a lifestyle like theirs.  And we all have big Uglies in the closet that we hide, so why not air out your hero's? Uglies make the reader sympathetic, and THAT will sell your story. (In case you didn't catch that, Uglies mean the awful parts to your personality)

ANTAGONIST:  

Ah, yes. The Villain.  Write out everything, just like with your hero. Be as descriptive as possible. Now give your villain three strengths and make them so amazing, that your villain will probably win.  And now the weaknesses.  But use your imagination.  Don't worry about plot yet, we'll get to that soon.

Other characters to sketch out: the SIDEKICK (Hero's best friend), WISE MAN (who the Hero gets answers from -this could be a computer), MOM (who loves and cares for the Hero? Are her parents dead?), LOVE INTEREST (self-explanatory) and RULER (who makes the rules - government/police/employment/planet).

Now print it all off and put it up on your wall so you can see it.  Writers are usually visually stimulated, so keep it where you always see it. Change when and where you need to.

I confess to you that my walls are covered in yellow post-it notes of ideas and scribbles.

Happy writing! Next time we will cover, the ENVIRONMENT.

 Jenn Kelly is a published author who is learning the girl geek-dom.  You can visit her webpage that she is supposed to update, but never does. http://www.jennkelly.com/ Um...that's all.

Capital Geek Girls News Update

We’ve had some exciting news this month at Capital Geek Girls. Let’s walk through it!

CGG IS PRESENTING AT OTTAWA COMIC CON!

Join us at the Ottawa Comic Con to attend our workshop, The Girl’s Guide to Being Geeky! In this session, CGG Editor, Jordan Danger, will walk you through a how-to guide of being a geek or taking your geekdom to the next level. Special focus on some of the unique experiences, barriers, upsides, and challenges of being a woman in the geek world will be addressed. Can’t wait to see you there!

WE’RE FAMOUS: OUR DOCUMENTARY!

Local filmmaker Emma Paling created a five minute documentary about the Capital Geek Girls. You can check it out right here:

It was tons of fun, and you get to meet a few of our geek girl writers!

IN THE NEWS: SUPPORTING HOLLABACK’S WORK AT COMIC CON

Your CGG fearless Editor Jordan Danger was also quoted in this recent article about harrassment at comic cons. The article highlights that Hollaback Ottawa will be presenting a workshop at the convention about harrassment. You can read the article here. 

IN THE NEWS AGAIN: THE GEEK GIRL EXPERIENCE

Here’s another news story (video this time) in Ottawa’s Centretown News, about the geek girl experience..and yes, we’re interviewed in it again! Here’s the link. 

FOR GIRLS WHO LOVE BLOGGING GEEKS

The annual Blog Out Loud Ottawa event is taking place this April 29^th at the Knox Presbyterian Church downtown, from 6:30-on. This event features blog posts read out loud by the authors themselves, who have been selected by jury to provide a wide range of fun and interesting readings. CGG Editor Jordan Danger will be reading a piece from the ‘mother blog’ of CGG (her original blog), GirlCrafted.com. The event is free and lots of fun!

STAY TUNED, FOLKS…

Same bat time, same bat channel. You never know where we’ll pop up next!

March Break Geek-Activities for Your Little Monsters

by Jenn Kelly

MARCH BREAK GEEK ACTIVITIES FOR YOUR LITTLE MONSTERS

Notwithstanding your usual routes of checking out the local libraries, museums, newspaper, bookstores, movie theatres and March Break Camps, here are five ideas (I was only allowed to write about five) that can entertain your little monster so you don't pull out your hair or begin drinking.

1- Cosplay.  Little Monsters love make-believe.  And it is so much more fun when you can make-believe with a costume.  Remember when you were a little monster yourself?  Look deep into your closet, check the internet and help them make costumes. But remember, let them be in charge. And guess what? Darth Vader is totally allowed to wear a pink tutu. And then you re-enact scenes from movies or books.  Be sure to participate.  Your little monsters will love you for it. And how precious would it be to video it?

 This is my little monster and his garbage pail R2-D2 costume.

2- Create Your Own Comic Strip.  This will involve some printer paper, a ruler and a thin black marker.  Sketch out an empty comic strip.  Let the kids draw in their own characters, create a story and then colour it.  If your child is stuck for ideas, offer them a scenario. "Hey, what if Batman broke both legs falling out of a helicopter and the alligators are going to eat him and only Wonder Woman can save him, but she's mad at him?" Even better if you can help them create their own characters. My child has created an amazing character called 'Ninja Abby' and I adore her.  Try looking here for more ideas.

3- Make Your Own Movie!  This is a lot of fun. If you are privy to a tablet, you can download the Lego App for making still-shot movies. So the idea is that your little monsters can pull out all their Lego, set up a scene, and shoot a movie. Then they get to play it back with effects and music and sounds. And if the snapshot movie making is too time-consuming, you can download many 'video' apps and then boot it up into YouTube. Just make sure it's private.  It is ridiculously cool, and eats up a lot of time for those important phone calls and emails you have to respond to.

4- Grow A Garden. Of course I put this in. There is nothing wrong with getting your child excited about planting sunflower seeds or even sprouts.  Cut up the cups from your egg package, fill it with moist soil and plant a seed. Create markers for them.  There is nothing more fun than digging your fingers into cold, moist dirt and slapping it around, making mud. And the smell is the smell of springtime.  And it teaches them how the seed cracks and germinates, the little endosperm grows, the cells duplicate rapidly, the first leaves pop out and if they turn yellow it means they don't have enough nitrogen, and purple means they need potassium... I'll stop here.

5- Make Harry Potter's Wand! Found on Pinterest of course. This super-cool tutorial encourages you to use the glue-gun! Which if you don't have, you can purchase at Michael's for about 3$. Don't forget the costumes!

I want to encourage you parents, care-givers, and relatives, that March Break doesn't have to be stressful for you, or for your little monsters.  This is a precious time where you can be a kid too and just come down to their level and play.  Pay attention to them, talk to them, play with them. Because this time will fly by and you will miss it when you're older.

Jenn Kelly is a published author who is learning the girl geek-dom.  You can visit her webpage that she is supposed to update, but never does. http://www.jennkelly.com/ Um...that's all.

Reading for Little Geeks Pt 1: a mom's list of best geek lit for little ones

by Jenn Kelly

AGE APPROPRIATE GEEK READING (Part One)

This is not an article on the crassness of figures drawn in graphic novels/comic books. That being said:

I am a strict parent. I believe in teaching respect, compassion and love, and keeping my son as innocent as possible, for however long I can. This is my job. He does not need to see the awfulness of our world at such a young age.  And it is not easy finding reading material that is appropriate and interesting.  However, having done some extensive research, I present to you a careful entry into the world of geek, for your young ones. All books can be purchased at your local Comic Book Store and found at the library.

DC: TINY TITANS

A simply-drawn, colourful comic by Art Baltazar and Franco that is filled with children superheroes (Supergirl, Batman, Wonderwoman!)  having silly adventures, using witty puns, and demonstrating equality between them all. It's adorable.  Sells for about $16.

G-MAN

A graphic novel rated E, created by Chris Giarrusso. G-Man is a kid learning to be a superhero, among his superhero friends. You can imagine the trouble they get into and the silliness from learning to fly, fight and blow things up.  Sells for about $10.

STAR WARS: JEDI ACADEMY

This book is brilliant. Written and illustrated by Jeffrey Brown (the same author of 'Darth Vader and Son'), the Jedi Academy follows the adventures of young Luke Skywalker and his buds attending the Jedi School. Darth Maul and Yoda are teachers.  The jokes are perfect. Silly, witty and offers full nights of giggles.  Selling for about $7. 

MAL AND CHAD

This graphic novel is less about superheroes and more about a boy-genius inventor and his best friend, his dog named Chad.  They have creative adventures, have emotionally-tugging moments and learn something transformative at the end of the day. Sells for about $11.

THE ADVENTURES OF TINTIN

How could you possibly forget about this brilliant character from the 40's? When was the last time you took a look?  Herge created an exceptional protagonist who has the coolest travels and mysterious adventures.  Granted, some of the wording is outdated and Captain does drink, but Herge outshines

the negativity by the wit of their speech, the heroic attributes of Snowy (Tintin's faithful dog), and the 'edge-of-your-seat' tales. My son inhales these books and loves to watch the cartoon as well.  You can now buy Tintin in a 3-in-1 Volume which is more portable. Sells for about $20.

Parents.  Please, check the book before your child reads it.  I wish books had warning signs that said, 'contains sex, contains girls acting stupid, contains shallow materialism, contains thought provoking images'. But they don't.  Life is not like it was way-back-when.  For the love of your child and their own growth, please care about what they're reading.  Because no one else does.

Jenn Kelly is a published author who is learning the girl geek-dom.  You can visit her webpage that she is supposed to update, but never does. http://www.jennkelly.com/ Um...that's all.

Wonderful Wonder Woman: can they bring her to life on screen?

by Jenn Kelly

So. Word on the street is that they've cast Wonder Woman for the new Superman/Batman movie. It seems to be all the rage now, creating movies about superheroes (of which I'm very glad we've left the vampire/demons/wolf phase). Which makes me wonder, why aren't they making a Wonder Woman movie? Because if they can find an auspicious plot for a man who controls bugs, I'm sure they can perfect our gorgeous Amazonian.

Back in 2011, they attempted a Wonder Woman series. Which bombed and never even made it past the pilot. Maybe it was because they tried to make it a series. Maybe it's because it was 'created' by David E Kelley. Yes, the same Kelley who created all those law shows, including Ally McBeal. What could he possibly know about superheroes? Easy! Make Diana Prince a lawyer! Who chases criminals through crowded shopping malls on the side.

In 1943, Wonder Woman's creator, William Moulton Marston, (who also invented the polygraph y'all)

explained it perfectly - "Not even girls want to be girls so long as our feminine archetype lacks force, strength, and power. Not wanting to be girls, they don't want to be tender, submissive, peace-loving as good women are. Women's strong qualities have become despised because of their weakness. The obvious remedy is to create a feminine character with all the strength of Superman plus all the allure of a good and beautiful woman"

I grew up in the 70's. A-hem. Every week I'd turn up the TV, let it warm a few minutes, wrap my orange crocheted quilt around my neck, jump off the couch and become Wonder Woman. Not only could she run fast, her lasso could stop any explosion, catch any thief. She was graceful and she had class. Sure she wore a tiny costume, but she was never blatantly sexual, you know? She was kind, sweet, compassionate. She stood up against injustice and inequality. She was a Warrior Princess! And I grew up with the powerful realization that I could be a 'tough' princess, a 'fighting for injustice' princess ... just like Wonder Woman! She gave us permission to be more than little girls.

Wonder Woman has been labelled an icon. And rightly so. I still look up to her. Because I can be tough and sweet, a warrior and a snuggler. I can wear my husband's old jeans with a pink, frilly t-shirt. I can go hunting, ride a BMX and plant red geraniums. Wonder Woman encourages a girl to be who she is. A girl. No labels. No expectations. Because not only does Wonder Woman kick ass, she can also cry. And still be Wonder Woman.

Why do we have to trivialize her?

So, here it is. They create a Wonder Woman movie. A simple plot that covers her beginnings as an Amazon Warrior, and her reasons for coming to earth. And while she's saving that hunk of a supporting-actor, make him strong. Make him independent. Make him easy to respect. Because Wonder Woman is worthy of a well-respected man. And then make her choose fighting justice over settling for love. Because no one wants Wonder Woman to get married and fight crime after tucking the kids into bed. It's too exhausting. 

Jenn Kelly is a published author who is learning the girl geek-dom.  You can visit her webpage that she is supposed to update, but never does. http://www.jennkelly.com/ Um...that's all.