Geek of the Week: Felicia Day

Felicia Day

Smart cookie Felicia Day got her start playing Scout in a community theater production of To Kill a Mockingbird.  In addition to being home schooled, she studied ballet and operatic singing.  She was also an accomplished violinist and was accepted to Julliard School of Music at 16.  Day decided to attend the University of Texas at Austin when they offered her a full scholarship and studied mathematics and music performance.  She graduated as a National Merit Scholar and the valedictorian of her class.

After college, she began an acting career that included a recurring role on "Buffy the Vampire Slayer".  In her spare time, Day was an avid gamer and used her experience playing MMORPGs to create the popular web series "The Guild".  After the privately funded first season became a huge hit, Microsoft agreed to fund future seasons.  Day also appeared as Penny on Joss Whedon's musical web series "Dr. Horrible's Sing-A-Long Blog" and continues to act in television and films.

Day recently announced via Twitter that she was working on a new web series.  The series will be based on the popular PC game Dragon Age: Origins and feature Day as writer, producer, and star.  Wil Wheaton, costar on "The Guild" and creator of geekfest Woostock, will also write and star in the production.

Follow Day on Twitter (@feliciaday) or visit her website/blog.

Day shows off her impressive pipes in music videos released to promote "The Guild":

Your Signature Here

A while back, I wrote a post about style.  I wasn't sure I had any, but after talking to a fashion-forward friend, she pointed out that everyone is continually drawn to specific items and these items often become a part of their signature.  Even if you don't think about these "signature pieces", other people notice and recognize them as part of your look.  My very wise friend says if you are unsure about how to create your own style, you should start with the items, colors, and patterns you are repeatedly drawn to and build your style from there.

Here are my signature items:

•  Dark plastic framed glasses - I tried the metal framed glasses, but the pads always pinched my nose and I loved the Buddy Holly-esque square frames that I saw many people wear.  I got plastic frames for my second pair of glasses and never looked back.
• Black Converse All-Star High Tops - Genetically cursed with flat feet, Converse All-Stars are the shoes I find most comfortable.  My dad wore Converses when I was growing up and I think my affinity started because I associated the shoes with him.

• Polka Dots - I've always been a fan of classic movies and retro clothing, but when I started working at a '50s-style diner I was given carte blanche to go all out.  My favorite items had black and white polka dots and this beloved pattern carried over into my regular life as well.  Polka dots have been on everything from my pajamas to elements of my wedding.

Our beautiful polka dot and fuchsia cake!

My bouquet (wrapped in polka dot ribbon)

• Fun earrings - I got my ears pierced later than most girls and I always loved funky earrings, especially when they were shaped like various objects.  My first pair of dangly earrings were silver fish bones similar to these.  (I still have and wear them, and I always get compliments!)  Since then, I've acquired earrings that look like sushi, playing cards, Gummi bears, and even nails.

• Cherries - At the diner, we were expected to sign our names on our tickets with a little flourish.  Inspired by a cute dress my mom had given me to wear under my uniform, I began drawing cherries next to my signature and it blossomed from there.  My absolute favorite earrings are these rhinestone cherries:

10 years and still going strong!

• Black glitter nail polish - I've worn black nail polish on and off for years and my favorite manicures have been black glittery nails with white tips.  When I do my own nails, my favorite polish is Sonia Kashuk Starry Night, which Target sells for $4.99 - an excellent price for quality polish.

One of my most recognizable signatures is about to change - my red hair.  I've had different shades of red hair for about ten years.  I was born blonde, but as I got older my hair inched toward brown and stopped somewhere in the middle, leaving my hair a kind of dishwater blonde/brown hybrid.  I had always envied girls with red hair (especially Molly Ringwald) and began dying my hair red during my first year of college.  I still love red hair, but I'm ready for a change - at least for a little while.  (I'll be posting my new look on Tuesday, so come back to check it out.)

What do you consider to be your "signature pieces"?

I Heart: The Monster Madness Edition

• My new logo - I'm using the "funny one" right now, but I also have a serious version.
• The Zen of Zombie by Scott Kenemore.  It probably looks like another trend-capitalizing, bandwagon-hopping novelty book - and it totally is - but, it's also pretty hilarious and accurately spoofs the business self-help genre.  I particularly like this passage:

"When a human says: 'Can I do that?' He usually means something like: 'Is this legal?  Will I get into trouble?  Is it permitted?'

A zombie who wonders if something is possible is concerned only with the physical logistics.  A zombie might wonder: 'Can I break down this military barrier?  Can that fat kid outrun me?  Can I get through that doorway with this spear sticking through my chest?'

But never: 'Will I get in trouble if I break down this door? Will eating that fat kid be in bad taste?  Is it a social faux pas to go indoors with a spear?'"

• Zombie jerky - it's teriyaki-flavored and made to look like zombie flesh.  What more could you want? 
• Awesome horror blogs Totally Jinxed and Carfax Abbey.  You NEED to read these if you are a horror fan - it's not optional.
• Allie Brosh's newest update - mostly because I was exactly  like her little sister when I was young!
• Silly Rhymes for Belligerent Children by Trace Beaulieu (Illustrations by Len Peralta) - Roald Dahl-esque poems with awesome illustrations.  It's very reminiscent of Strewwelpeter, the German children's book of cautionary tales by Heinrich Hoffman or Edward Gorey's The Gashlycrumb Tinies (one of my personal favorites).

My favorite of the "Tinies" - Who doesn't want to die of ennui?
Image found here

• These awesome eyeball earrings from Kreepsville, an online exclusive on the Hot Topic website
• These lovely bow hair clips that my darling husband bought for me:

Blood Spattered (Left) and Covered in Brains (Right)

• The League of Tana Tea Drinkers' round table discussion about "What Cute Versions of Monsters Tell Us About Horror" - interesting insights from several bloggers (including The Drunken Severed Head) about the transformation and commercialization of monsters into harmless adorables.
• Unexpected gifts - We got to hang out with some friends we hadn't seen in a while and they totally surprised and delighted me with a belated Christmas gift!  I now own Season 1 of "The Twilight Zone": The Definitive Edition!
• IFC (Independent Film Channel) - IFC is awesome for several reasons (ie: They occasionally run episodes of "The IT Crowd", they don't edit their movies for time or content, etc.), but the main reason to watch is that they play awesome, rarely broadcast movies in their entirety.  Add to that fact that they're killing it right now with the horror movies and you have my new favorite channel.  IFC currently has Carrie, The Vanishing (1988), and The Changeling (1980) in their regular rotation.
  
• Sucker Punch, Zack Snyder's new fantasy flick hitting IMAX and theaters on March 25th

*Inspired by Gala Darling who features TILT (Things I Love Thursdays) on her blog.