And what's with you?
[Recent Entries][Archive][Friends][User Info]
Below are the 18 most recent friends journal entries:
|
10:52 pm
snuggly_llama
![[User Picture]](http://l-userpic.livejournal.com/14451540/3035657) [Link] |
We could be heroes
If you were a schoolchild in the Kansas City metro area today, it was a snow day. At a balmy 8 deg F, it was a bit cold to actually play in the snow. This morning, as I got dressed, I was watching the morning news to find out road conditions. I watched the school closings list crawl across the bottom of the screen. When I saw the listing for my high school, but heart gave a small leap...but then I realized that I'm 28 and still have to go work. M. caught me watching the school closings and scolded, "They're not going to close work. You still have to go." (Damn! How did he know what I was thinking?)
Luckily, the highways were pretty clear by the time I began my commute, although the fine snow caused some slipping when I hit my brakes (maintaining proper following distance is key) I actually got to work early, in less than 20 minutes. (Last night, it took me two hours to get home.) Everyone at work who had telecommuting access took advantage of it, as not to have to come in today. So the few of us that made an appearance, we felt like heroes. There was vaguely snow-day atmosphere at work, as my cube mate and I relaxed and put on classical music and related funny anecdotes. Randomly, our management decided to bring in pizza for lunch (poor delivery people!) Some kind of reward for showing up on a snow day?
In fandom news, Tor publishers is putting out e-book versions of the Wheel of Time novels with new cover art. The Wheel of Time is famous for having these ridiculously cheesy covers by artist Darrell Sweet- they're done in a certain high fantasy sword & sorcery style, which is a signal of sorts to fans of the genre. (But they're so embarrassingly awful, that when I was a teenager, I used to cover them up on my paperbacks.) Anyway, the new cover art looks pretty amazing. In the tor.com piece, they tell about the different artists creating the new covers, which I think are a vast improvement over the original ones. I especially like the cover for The Shadow Rising. For the original, click here.
The Philo list has had an active thread about the decline of Biosphere 2. Establishing community (a fantasy self living in an artificial utopia?) those 4 months during Fall 2001 that I spent at Earth Semester at Biosphere 2 was one of the most influential experiences of my life. Shared scholarship, communal living, clotheslines, composting, van trips to the Grand Canyon. The faculty provided incredible mentors and role models,and the opportunity of meeting kids who had a different perspective on life than that of my Columbia classmates. ("What do you mean you don't care about the grade?") All in a physical environment that was as alien to me as the surface of Mars. (The sonoran desert is a strange and beautiful place, completely unlike any other I've ever experienced). Posting on the Philo thread about my Bio2 memories has been a revisting of 21-year old llama-self that I didn't realize I had lost touch with. (But I had.)
We may be the sum our all our experiences, but sometimes we forget the details when bogged down more present distractions. I will always love my potluck dinner contributions of Kasha varnishkes ("It's eriogonum (buckwheat)"), creating my field note books with carefully pressed leaves and drawings, my roommate claiming that I lectured about photosynthesis in my sleep. I loved our clothesline and way laundry smelled when taken warm off the line, and being able to look out across the scrub of cholla and mesquite to see the Santa Catalinas in the distance. I remember snow on the cacti and javelinas rooting through the trash. But I hadn't thought about them in a long time. It made to smile today to recall them, even as I was sad that I recognized it was unique moment in time and space that will never come again. I was a hero then. Maybe someday I'll be one again.
Tags: biosphere 2, fantasy, heroes, musings, nostalgia, snow
|
09:52 pm
snuggly_llama
[Link] |
I want all the peanut M&M's in the world, starting with yours
There was an article in the New York Times recently about how women with mates gain weight. This is because their mates buy bags of peanut M&M's and leave them where Llamas can find them. Mmmmm....tasty.
![[info]](http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif) gryffin23 has proven to be a most excellent interlocutor in challenging me to rethink my assumptions, lately. Her comment about gaming (had I ever tried it?) provoked an interesting response. Gaming, of course, is something that Mushkie-llamas huddled in a dark basement rooms reach out to play on teh intarwebs. I mean, I've played the board gameSettlers of Cataan and maybe a couple of games of chess. Does that count for something?
I find something unsettling about participating in communal fantasy. As a Llama who lives in her head, I like to keep my fantasy participation to myself, as a private self-contained world with an audience of one. This is true even if I later discuss a book or a movie with other people- or write about it on my blog - my initial experience of reading or watching has still taken place entirely within the Llamasphere. (Maybe this is why I have never actually attended a science fiction convention, though I did enjoy going to CUSFS meetings.) I'm also turned off by the competitive aspects of games- some people win, some people lose, some people accumulate more points that others.
That said, I'm fascinated by gaming culture and the people who inhabit it. I recently read Ethan Gilsdorf's book Fantasy Freaks and Gaming Geeks about the denizens of this rare subculture. (Sort of like how I'm fascinated by Mormons without actually wanting to become one.) I really enjoy the webseries The Guild, about the trials and tribulations of a cadre of devoted gamers. (Also, because Felicia Day is so gosh darn appealing!)
Tags: fantasy, gaming, musings
|
|
08:38 pm
snuggly_llama
[Link] |
World building nitty gritty
gryffin23's comment on Robert Jordan's novels being a serialized record of a really long D&D game got me thinking. Over the years I've enjoyed (and occasionally mocked) the Wheel of Time (WoT): its influence on my adolescent appreciation of fantastic fiction (and fiction in general), the terrible cover art, the perpetually pissed-off female characters, the hefty paperback tomes, I'm really very sentimental about the whole thing.
Back in 1993 or 1994, someone at Tor publishing came up with a brilliant marketing idea: Provide copies of the 1st half of the 1st book of the series (The Eye of the World for FREE.
A thirteen-year old version of Llama could not resist the idea of free novel (or at least the first half of one), picked it up and was hooked. The premise was simple Tolkien-esque fantasy pastiche: yokels from the countryside are drafted for a Very Special Mission that will Save the World. I am a still a sucker for this premise. In fact, I LOVE this premise, because I too, in my llama heart of hearts, believe that I, a simple countrified llama, am destined to SAVE THE WORLD (preferably in a some manner that involves access to the internet and indoor plumbing.)
I also love really intricate world building: social structures, stories, food, language, clothing, hairdos- whatever, I'm sold. I'm willing to overlook serious character deficiencies and plot structure in the name of world building. Oh, and there has to be some romance (guy/girl/straight/gay/whatever, its all good) and deeds of derring do! So Robert Jordan's Wheel of Time, for all its myriad flaws, fits these criteria.
Robert Jordan (really James Oliver Rigney) passed away in 2007 after completing only 11 books of the Wheel of Time, leaving his epic unfinished. His estate hired fantasy author Brandon Sanderson to work from Jordan's notes to complete the unfinished volumes of the series. When the Gathering Storm (volume 12) came out in October, I was a bit ambivalent. As I've gotten older, my teenage starry-eyed passion for the novels (like all things adolescent) had faded in the process of growing up. I recognized that perhaps the characters were a bit 2-dimensional, veering into cliche. The cast-of-thousands viewpoints, rather than adding depth to the story, just made it more confusing and less engaging. And why hasn't anything actually happened to advance the story for the last 6 books?
Still, I was able to get a copy from the "new books" shelf of the library-and I found myself falling in love all over again. Not really with the story or the characters- but with the 14 year old Llama-self that lives in the back of my brain who gets really excited about new Wheel of Time novels.
It's like that line from "Real Genius": "You see Mitch, I used to be you. And lately I've been missing me so I asked Dr. Hathaway if I could room with me again and he said sure."
So my 14-year old llama-self (whose capacity for enthusiasm and imagination I sorely miss) and I had a date. Nostalgia aside, it certainly helps that Brandon Sanderson is a) a good writer, b)there were no extended battle scenes that failed to advance the dramatic narrative and c)my favorite characters (including the perpetually ignored Gawyn Trakand) got to do cool stuff. Yay!
Prodded by de facto imprisonment by snow and very cold temperatures over Christmas and New Years, I dipped back into the Wheel of Time (Not in order, and only reading the parts I liked) my 14 year-old self and I were happily absorbed in escapist fantasy.
However, my 28 year old llama-self kept intruding with annoying questions like, "Haven't the Aes Sedai figured out how to use the One Power for birth control?" (I think Aes Sedai are allowed have sex (ex: Greens with their multiple Warders- but I can't imagine that any of them particularly want to have children, especially since they'll probably outlive them by 200 years.) And if the Aes Sedai haven't figured out, surely someone else (Aiel Wise Ones, etc) has? Jordan conveniently elides the role of sex in WoTland (which is strange considering how prominent romance is in the plot/ character development, as well as "clash" of men and women through various gender stereotypes) And if Aes Sedai live for 300 years, but remain physically young, do they ever go through menopause?
14 year old llama-self shakes her head, but smiles. 28 year old llama-self has a reputation for overthinking. That's why she has a blog.
Tags: adulthood, fantasy, musings, science fiction
|
11:15 pm
snuggly_llama
[Link] |
frozen in place
It is very, very cold. So cold that worm farm in the garage is frozen solid. I have wormsicles! Blah.
We've been letting our faucets drip during the day, just in case. I've been a little worried that there would be some unforeseen clog and we'd come home to a flood, but that luckily has not happened.
It's supposed to snow tomorrow. A lot of snow. They've preemptively cancelled most of the local school districts (but mostly because they can't have kids waiting for buses in sub-zero temperatures).
I'm glad that at least I don't live in a yurt. But endlessly fascinated by these people who do. A yurt!
I spent the whole weekend re-reading Robert Jordan novels. (which means I got to skip the boring parts.) It kind of made me feel 14 years old again.
Also, just read "Girl with the Dragon Tattoo" by Stieg Larssen- which is an awesome murder-mystery translated from Swedish. Swedish!
|
12:01 am
amireal
![[User Picture]](http://l-userpic.livejournal.com/90287230/404350) [Link] |
Handy Dandy Twitter Post
( Hey look, I remembered I have twitter. )
|
|
11:31 am
immaculatepizza
![[User Picture]](http://l-userpic.livejournal.com/42048454/628358) [Link] |
Resomolutions
* Be patient with people.
* If someone says "I tested positive for (insert name of infection here)" I then say "Let's reschedule."
* Continue to meditate - try earnestly to get up to thirty minute sessions by end of year.
* Acquire manly shoulders (My own! Not a sex joke.)
* Complete first first-authored publication, use that experience as input to help determine whether I belong in academia.
Current Mood:  hopeful
|
|
04:26 pm
amireal
[Link] |
Today's list is extra short.
3. Wow. REALLY? REALLY ESTATE OF CONAN DOYLE? Fuck you too.
|
|
05:24 pm
amireal
[Link] |
Doctor Who
Someone talk Doctor Who Part II with me RIGHT NOW.
Spoilers in comments, natch.
|
04:46 pm
jalfred
![[User Picture]](http://l-userpic.livejournal.com/48446291/349554) [Link] |
yee haw
In 2009, I finally broke down and watched Battlestar Galactica. I fucking loved it. I avoided reading fic because I actually didn't want to get spoiled. But now I watched the whole thing and I NEED FIC. I haven't really started looking for it, but if there's a favorite you have, please do tell.
Tags: fandom, television
|
|
05:57 pm
jalfred
![[User Picture]](http://l-userpic.livejournal.com/47116149/349554) [Link] |
year/decade in review: usually thoughtful, often cathartic.
theater: Speed-the-Plow, Exit the King, The Toxic Avenger, all three parts of The Norman Conquests, Desire Under the Elms, South Pacific, Next to Normal, Lavaman (Ohio theatre), Fight Girl Battle World (Vampire Cowboys), The Rivalry (Irish Rep), Coraline (MCC), Avenue Q, After Miss Julie, An Evening Without Monty Python, A Steady Rain, She Like Girls (Working Man's Clothes), In the Next Room or the Vibrator Play, Superior Donuts, Refractions (Dalliance), West Side Story, Hair, Baby Wants Candy, Fat Camp (NYMF), The Happy Embalmer (NYMF), In Security (3LD). I need to see more indie stuff.
concerts: Heloise and the Savoir Faire, White Rabbits, Art Brut (x2!), The Cribs, Camera Obscura, Franz Ferdinand. Looks remarkably like last year. I need to find some new bands!
knitting: 10 pairs of socks (including a pair of knee socks and two pairs of child-sized socks), 2 adult hats, 1 baby hat, 2 child-sized tank tops, 1 pullover sweater, a yoga mat bag, and a baby blanket. Oh, and I finished the cardigan I started last year, and am in the middle of another baby blanket. More than half of that was for other people. Being able to crank out a baby hat or two is incredibly useful.
travel: little this year. DC for the weekend, Wisconsin to have a family vacation, and San Francisco for Thanksgiving.
personal: All hell broke lose at work and I got a promotion. And then I worked really hard, and am still doing so. I'm incredibly proud of what I've accomplished, but still have a long way to go before I'm satisfied with myself. If I ever am, entirely.
other: I moved to New York City in the fall of 1999 for college, so my 10 year anniversary was a few months ago. A large chunk of that time is more-or-less chronicled here. I studied, made friends, discovered the internet and fandom, had a long-term relationship, lost friends, had my heart broken, moved a few times and had a few (11?) roommates, developed a taste for Irish breakfast tea and Irish whisky, saw some theater, worked hard, learned to knit, had fun with boys, was a regular for a time, saw my name in programs, made and lost friends a few more times, learned double-entry bookkeeping, maybe broke a heart or two, saw some concerts, had fun without boys. Went to Montreal, Charleston, Puerto Rico, LA, Colorado, San Francisco, San Diego, Boston, Philadelphia, DC, Arlington, Syracuse, Maine, and Taiwan. I went to my 5 year college reunion and felt like I'd done something since college. I didn't go to my 10 year high school reunion, because the timing for vacation was bad and I felt kind of ambivalent about it.
10 years ago, I think I was visiting a college friend in downstate Illinois during winter break. We'd hit it off during the first semester, and hanging out for New Year's seemed like a good idea. I don't really talk to her much, anymore. We drifted apart, had different ideas about life blah blah blah, and that's sane and normal. But I was being nostalgic, and yeah, thinking about her, and that first year of college, and how could all this have happened in such a short time that didn't feel like a short time, and still doesn't.
Tags: knitting, music, new york, theater, travel, work
|
12:01 am
amireal
[Link] |
Handy Dandy Twitter Post
( Hey look, I remembered I have twitter. )
|
|
09:34 pm
amireal
[Link] |
*glee*
Dear ignazwisdom, you are my super favoritest person EVER.
Dunderhead.
*hugs and kisses*
Ami
|
05:30 pm
amireal
[Link] |
Huh.
Do I have plans for New Years eve? Curious Amis want to know.
|
|
07:07 pm
amireal
![[User Picture]](http://l-userpic.livejournal.com/88894320/404350) [Link] |
Mini catch up.`
1. So I think I've managed to exercise (the gym or yoga) twice a week for 3 weeks now and I still feel motivated. Sadly I also feel poorer, because I found motivation needed a good deal of structure. So I sprung for 4 half hour personal trainer sessions. Basically you stretch and do cardio on your own, though I get cardio homework, i.e. told how and when to step up and then your trainer does weight training with you.
2. After those sessions I'll use the much cheaper service that's 10 bucks a month that's basically a computer managing your exercise and slowly stepping you up and rearranging your workout each time so it doesn't get boring. It's written specifically for the gym I go to and pretty flexible so I think the compromise is good.
3. Bah.
4. Have betrayed self to the military industrial complex. Stepped out of the gym and into a starbucks where I bought COFFEE. I stand firm that these yuppy tendencies DO NOT MEAN ANYTHING. I was v. tired. The blue haired old ladies were passing me on the sidewalk. We are talking profoundly tired.
5. On a related note, my participation in the public transportation system has gone from nothing to approximately 3 times a week more or less. This is up from zero. I'm not really a walker and one of the reasons I started on this was because subway stairs really take it out of me (more than any other stairs, they tend to be a lot steeper and they gather in flocks). Not because of you lady eye doctor and the diagnosis of the eyeballs we're trying to correct finally. I joined a gym for me. Not you. And fuck you for asking if I needed help from a nutritionist. Um. /tangent? (Long story short, am finally seeing a specialist who specializes in the problem with my eyes that causes headaches, HE was a little less awesome about weight being a factor but nothing too bothersome, I saw his associate the other day who took my weight as a given causing factor by simply asking me if in the 4 weeks from my last visit if I'd joined a gym or started exercising. I had btw, but not because of that, but for myself and for my own reasons.) So uh, yes, more walking in general. Yay buses?
6. Have officially complained to my gym (NYSC which is a really nice middle of the way club, high end but not ULTRA high end) that I love what they do, but find their lack of accommodations for anyone bigger than a size large to be offputting.
7. Oh my god, there is so much laundry.
Current Mood:  pensive
Tags: ami: life, state of the ami
|
03:22 pm
muppetk
![[User Picture]](http://l-userpic.livejournal.com/12115505/2414922) [Link] |
PSA: A quick plug...
My friend kythryne's friend Kate is having a sale to help pay for her cat's vet bills. She makes jewelry & homemade "goo"s, lotions, etc. I've tried a couple of the goo's, (balms), I think it was the muscle & sprain goo. I found it nice, effective, and more skin friendly than my chinese linaments (which are stronger, but also smell a LOT stronger. Kate's goos as I recall, smelled gently of rosemary & other herbs.) I don't use them in my practice, but I've used them on myself when I didn't have my others available.
Anyhow, the sale is a free soap with any purchase, and no increase in shipping for the addition of soap. The link will take you to her etsy shop.
EDIT: PS. I've met Kate in person, (about 12-18months ago) and she seems like a pretty spiffy person too.
EDIT: PPS. What on earth am I doing from with the lj user tag?? I know I've done it before!
Tags: goo, plug
|
10:58 am
amireal
[Link] |
Cats. Their lives are so hard.
Currently there are two squirrels on the fire escape taunting my cat.
My thoughts are thus:
1. NYC squirrels are tough, shouldn't they be asleep already? Or snug in their woodland hiding places?
2. Poor Seth, I will laugh at his exploits and hope he doesn't faceplant into the window.
Currently he is stalking them from the ground, up on his hind legs just far enough to peek over the window sill.
Current Mood: chipper
Tags: seth
|
12:03 am
amireal
[Link] |
Handy Dandy Twitter Post
( Hey look, I remembered I have twitter. )
|
|
12:02 am
amireal
[Link] |
Handy Dandy Twitter Post
( Hey look, I remembered I have twitter. )
|
|
