So, it is Reading Week around here, and so my super exciting plans revolve around pretending that I'm not acutally a student at the moment. Sweet, yes?
So, I'll probably start posting again on Monday. Or not. It entirely depends on how this week turns out, and then I'll be back with all sorts of exciting stories.
Monday, February 20, 2006
Thursday, February 16, 2006
Sticky Wicket Explained and Un-Confounded
So, a while ago I started watching Buffy the Vampire Slayer on DVD. It is going rather well so far for me. Knitter, one of my upstairs neighbours, has all of the episodes, so it is both fun and economical to do.
I was warned that Season One was sub-par, and I agree. It does a good job of setting the story and the future tensions that would come out, but it left me a little wanting. Season One focuses the story on Buffy, and places all of the pressure on her, story-wise. Unfortunately, after watching Firefly about umpty-zillion times, it falls a little flat. Buffy was a good character and got rather well rounded, but the rest of the characters got left empty. The surrounding cast become a group of excessively useless babies. It was pretty sad, and almost hard to watch.
It also drove me nuts that Buffy was wearing bras to bed. It is just one of those facts that firmly takes the tv show and places it within such a specific context that it does feel artificial.
I can see that most of it is done for a reason. The image of Buffy as innocent victim is repeatedly thrown at you as she both kicks ass and falls for Angel, the ultimate in "safe" bad-boy. She is never shown as interested in a man unless she comes up to just below his shoulder, and he outweighs her by maybe 100 lbs. The show also throws many horror movie staples at you, the viewer, as well. The disembodied monster-hand. The implacable advance of the monster. The innocent victim. The not-so innocent victim. The ghostly child as pathway to Other and also expositor.
I'm glad I watched it, however, because I've never been able to watch horror and be able to deconstruct it before. It was always too scary and I couldn't remove myself from watching it enough to look at it analytically before. I'm actually pretty excited about perhaps being able to do it now.
The other main problem I had was with Angel. He is supposed to be the romantic lead. He is supposed to make the audience drool and cheer when kissing happens, and riot when shirts come off. I remember watching a few episodes and having a huge crush on Angel. It was a little disappointing to realize that not only was the crush completely gone, I was almost repelled by him.
Then inspiration struck.
1) Angel is such a flat character, and is so mysterious, he becomes "that guy, you know, the one in black." There is nothing there. He just shows up, is good looking enough that you know you are supposed to want him, and then leaves.
2) I dig smart boys. Boys who read make me do double-takes. When I saw Prince Charming's bookcase, I knew for sure he was both very interesting and definitely worth my time. It's not until Season Two that you see Angel's apartment, and you see the reams of cool books lying around. He's just now becoming interesting and nicely layered (am currently watching Season Two.)
3) She is 16, he's 300-ish. I'm 24, and wouldn't consider dating a 16-yr-old, or even and 21-yr-old. It's beyond cradle-robbing, and is moving into criminal action for me.
4) Whoever does his eyebrows needs to take less off, and darken them a bit. They are not dramatic enough. His hair is dark enough that he could handle, and in fact needs a darker eyebrow. It looks funny. This is a complaint I've had of David Boreanaz for a while, and it still needs doing.
I was warned that Season One was sub-par, and I agree. It does a good job of setting the story and the future tensions that would come out, but it left me a little wanting. Season One focuses the story on Buffy, and places all of the pressure on her, story-wise. Unfortunately, after watching Firefly about umpty-zillion times, it falls a little flat. Buffy was a good character and got rather well rounded, but the rest of the characters got left empty. The surrounding cast become a group of excessively useless babies. It was pretty sad, and almost hard to watch.
It also drove me nuts that Buffy was wearing bras to bed. It is just one of those facts that firmly takes the tv show and places it within such a specific context that it does feel artificial.
I can see that most of it is done for a reason. The image of Buffy as innocent victim is repeatedly thrown at you as she both kicks ass and falls for Angel, the ultimate in "safe" bad-boy. She is never shown as interested in a man unless she comes up to just below his shoulder, and he outweighs her by maybe 100 lbs. The show also throws many horror movie staples at you, the viewer, as well. The disembodied monster-hand. The implacable advance of the monster. The innocent victim. The not-so innocent victim. The ghostly child as pathway to Other and also expositor.
I'm glad I watched it, however, because I've never been able to watch horror and be able to deconstruct it before. It was always too scary and I couldn't remove myself from watching it enough to look at it analytically before. I'm actually pretty excited about perhaps being able to do it now.
The other main problem I had was with Angel. He is supposed to be the romantic lead. He is supposed to make the audience drool and cheer when kissing happens, and riot when shirts come off. I remember watching a few episodes and having a huge crush on Angel. It was a little disappointing to realize that not only was the crush completely gone, I was almost repelled by him.
Then inspiration struck.
1) Angel is such a flat character, and is so mysterious, he becomes "that guy, you know, the one in black." There is nothing there. He just shows up, is good looking enough that you know you are supposed to want him, and then leaves.
2) I dig smart boys. Boys who read make me do double-takes. When I saw Prince Charming's bookcase, I knew for sure he was both very interesting and definitely worth my time. It's not until Season Two that you see Angel's apartment, and you see the reams of cool books lying around. He's just now becoming interesting and nicely layered (am currently watching Season Two.)
3) She is 16, he's 300-ish. I'm 24, and wouldn't consider dating a 16-yr-old, or even and 21-yr-old. It's beyond cradle-robbing, and is moving into criminal action for me.
4) Whoever does his eyebrows needs to take less off, and darken them a bit. They are not dramatic enough. His hair is dark enough that he could handle, and in fact needs a darker eyebrow. It looks funny. This is a complaint I've had of David Boreanaz for a while, and it still needs doing.
Tuesday, February 14, 2006
A Surprising Lack of Valentine's Day Funk
Today has gone surprisingly well.
For those of you who are new to the scene, I will sum up. I am engaged to Prince Charming. He is, of course, very charming; but also is currently very far away. He is going to school two time zones away and so is gone for about 8 months of the year. This is the second year that the two of us have spent the 8 months apart.
We are currently at about the half-way mark for our last 4 month stretch. It feels so good to say that. Prince Charming and I were not engaged when this started, that happened a year ago.
Another key factoid to know. My favorite holiday is Valentine's Day. I love it. I am not one of those people who bitches and complains about the hideosity that is Valentine's Day. I adore it. I still adore it when I'm single, I just adore it more when I'm not.
However, when you take those two facts and put them together, it sometimes makes for a very lonely and sad day filled with comfort m&m's and ice cream.
But, and a very large one as well. Today I am feeling pretty good.
Not only is my true love far away, but I also had a midterm today which was accurately referenced in the syllabus as the Valentine's Day Massacre. I fell asleep on the couch after I got home from school and slept way too long, and so was wide awake until 7 am. Which was not a good thing, not at all.
With all of these factors, which should have added up into a great big ball of misery, somehow have not. It has been a pretty good day. I will go home and eat a nice dinner, with a nice big bowl of ice cream. I will finish doing my notes for my last midterm tonight, and then I will settle down to a few episodes of Buffy (Season One).
I had a good day, and I will have a good night.
I hope that you all had and are having a good Valentine's Day, with many hugs and kisses from those who love you. If not today, then soon.
For those of you who are new to the scene, I will sum up. I am engaged to Prince Charming. He is, of course, very charming; but also is currently very far away. He is going to school two time zones away and so is gone for about 8 months of the year. This is the second year that the two of us have spent the 8 months apart.
We are currently at about the half-way mark for our last 4 month stretch. It feels so good to say that. Prince Charming and I were not engaged when this started, that happened a year ago.
Another key factoid to know. My favorite holiday is Valentine's Day. I love it. I am not one of those people who bitches and complains about the hideosity that is Valentine's Day. I adore it. I still adore it when I'm single, I just adore it more when I'm not.
However, when you take those two facts and put them together, it sometimes makes for a very lonely and sad day filled with comfort m&m's and ice cream.
But, and a very large one as well. Today I am feeling pretty good.
Not only is my true love far away, but I also had a midterm today which was accurately referenced in the syllabus as the Valentine's Day Massacre. I fell asleep on the couch after I got home from school and slept way too long, and so was wide awake until 7 am. Which was not a good thing, not at all.
With all of these factors, which should have added up into a great big ball of misery, somehow have not. It has been a pretty good day. I will go home and eat a nice dinner, with a nice big bowl of ice cream. I will finish doing my notes for my last midterm tonight, and then I will settle down to a few episodes of Buffy (Season One).
I had a good day, and I will have a good night.
I hope that you all had and are having a good Valentine's Day, with many hugs and kisses from those who love you. If not today, then soon.
Monday, February 13, 2006
Return to Wellville.... Maybe
Today I woke up and realized that something was different. It took me a while to realize what the change was. I could actually breathe through my nose. It was a welcome change, and hopefully a portent of good health to come. I still have my cough, but it is nowhere near the "Beth has consumption" level of hacking that it was. It is actually approaching a civilized type of coughing.
YAY! It is always exciting to be feeling better just in time for.... midterms.
All of a sudden, my excitement about my massive improvement in health has begun to fall flat. Draining slowly and dribbling out.
I'll keep myself going thinking about the joy that will be reading week.
YAY! It is always exciting to be feeling better just in time for.... midterms.
All of a sudden, my excitement about my massive improvement in health has begun to fall flat. Draining slowly and dribbling out.
I'll keep myself going thinking about the joy that will be reading week.
Thursday, February 09, 2006
My Starbucks Life, or Sorry Mr. Frost
I say the night will end in fire,
He says in ice.
From what I've tasted of the steamed apple cider
I hold with those who favour fire.
But if I should have to order twice,
I think I know enough about drinks,
To say that for my date
The double chocolate chip frappachino
Is also great,
And would suffice.
I was studying at Starbucks, if you couldn't tell.
He says in ice.
From what I've tasted of the steamed apple cider
I hold with those who favour fire.
But if I should have to order twice,
I think I know enough about drinks,
To say that for my date
The double chocolate chip frappachino
Is also great,
And would suffice.
I was studying at Starbucks, if you couldn't tell.
Haiku # 2
deep thermal vents burn
awakened, kissed by G-d
the first in-drawn breath
also while studying the formation of the solar system
awakened, kissed by G-d
the first in-drawn breath
also while studying the formation of the solar system
My First Haiku
in the beginning
there was both explosion
and nothing at all
written while studying the formation of the solar system, last night
there was both explosion
and nothing at all
written while studying the formation of the solar system, last night
Mad About Haiku
I spent many years of my life unable to remember the number of syllabels that are in each line of a haiku. It was like knowing how to spell the word "answer" or how many centimeters go into an inch.
Anyway, I seem to be breaking out into haiku. It is very strange because while I have written many poems in many styles, I have never been drawn to the haiku before. I will admit that I am now enjoying them quite alot.
Anyway, I seem to be breaking out into haiku. It is very strange because while I have written many poems in many styles, I have never been drawn to the haiku before. I will admit that I am now enjoying them quite alot.
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