The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants has a special place in my heart. They're not the best books ever written, but they spoke to me nonetheless. I hasten to add that I am a quite casual Traveling Pants fan; I've read the first three books and some of the fourth, and I own both movies. I was nevertheless surprised to hear that Ann Brashares had written another installment in the series, however. The cynical side of me thinks she just wrote it so she would have a guaranteed seller on her hands, but even if that is the case, Brashares's writing doesn't really suffer. In fact, I would say her prose is better than it's ever been, bearing in mind it's been a long while since I read the first book. Yet as well-written and ultimately good as this book was, it was also one of the saddest, most heart-wrenching things I've ever read.
Okay, if you don't want to be spoiled for this book, stop reading NOW. Major, major spoilers ahoy. In fact, it is impossible to really discuss this book without discussing the huge, series-changing spoiler, because it's the main plot point in the book. Look away!
Showing posts with label teal deering. Show all posts
Showing posts with label teal deering. Show all posts
Monday, February 6, 2012
Tuesday, January 31, 2012
North and South
For those of you who don't know, I'm mildly obsessed with 19th century female-written English literature. I started a Jane Austen club at UVa, which is currently on hiatus but might get reestablished next year if I can find the time to run it. I have read all of Austen's novels several times over (my favorite is Pride and Prejudice, although I also love Northanger Abbey and Sense and Sensibility, and my least favorite is Mansfield Park). I love Jane Eyre (and rather detest Wuthering Heights, I'm sorry to say - sorry, Emily, Charlotte writes books with characters I don't loathe). Since I live on the Internet and frequent Jane Austen communities, I'd been aware of Elizabeth Gaskell and her novels for quite some time, and have wanted to read North and South at least since I've been in college. Back in December I downloaded a free Kindle app for my iPod, and discovered to my delight that most of the classics are free, including Gaskell's work. I started North and South during my trip up to Washington for my visa appointment at the French consulate, and finally finished it today.
The story centers around Margaret Hale, the daughter of a former country vicar and his rather delicate wife, who have lived in the south of England all of Margaret's life. Her father abruptly breaks with his parish and moves the family to the northern industrial town of Milton, where he will work as a private tutor (hence, North and South). There, Margaret's eyes are opened to the harshness of factory life, and she frequently clashes with one of her father's pupils, plant manager John Thornton. You can probably guess where the story goes from there, but I recommend finding out for yourself rather than me telling you. However, since this is my blog, here are some of my impressions (SPOILER ALERT):
The story centers around Margaret Hale, the daughter of a former country vicar and his rather delicate wife, who have lived in the south of England all of Margaret's life. Her father abruptly breaks with his parish and moves the family to the northern industrial town of Milton, where he will work as a private tutor (hence, North and South). There, Margaret's eyes are opened to the harshness of factory life, and she frequently clashes with one of her father's pupils, plant manager John Thornton. You can probably guess where the story goes from there, but I recommend finding out for yourself rather than me telling you. However, since this is my blog, here are some of my impressions (SPOILER ALERT):
Monday, January 23, 2012
Art
Today I bought groceries, slept, and tried but mostly failed to work on my Batten application. Thus, I have nothing interesting to report. It was a recovery from Paris day, I guess. In lieu of an actual interesting post, have the rest of the Avatar art I've drawn over the past two weeks:
This actually makes a lot of sense. When I started watching Avatar during my first semester of college, well after the series had ended, I had no expectations for shipping (although I had certainly heard of the shipping wars). During books one and two, I thought Kataang was sort of blandly cute, even if it bothered me that Katara didn’t really seem to reciprocate Aang’s feelings (“The Cave of Two Lovers” being a notable exception). I was intrigued by Zuko and Katara’s dynamic, but I’m decidedly not one of those shippers that enjoys the “I’ll save you from the pirates” scene. Sorry, I’m not really into foe-yay.
I became a Zutara shipper after “The Crossroads of Destiny.” By that point, I knew Kataang was going to be endgame, so I didn’t actually expect anything to happen between Zuko and Katara. But I still think that post-series, they became very close friends at the very least, precisely because they have this shared connection. She’s water and he’s fire, but they’re really very similar, and they’ve both lost their mothers. I think they understand each other quite well, perhaps more than they care to admit.
Which leads me to the end of book three. I honestly believe that the writers made a few significant fumbles here, if they wanted us to support the Aang/Katara pairing. Katara needed to forgive and accept Zuko, but the way it was done created the problem of making them very close emotionally. Look at the way they interact with each other, post-“The Southern Raiders.” Zuko turns to Katara for reassurance and understanding, and she to him. When Aang is missing, when Zuko is afraid to face his uncle, when they’re preparing for the showdown with Azula, they find comfort in one another. While this certainly can be applied to their budding friendship, the way their relationship arc was progressing, it seems like the next natural step would have been to start a romance, particularly with Katara pushing Aang away and telling him that she was confused.
Basically, here’s how I see it:
1. Zuko and Katara connect over the mutual loss of their mothers in Ba Sing Se. He then sides with Azula, which Katara takes quite personally.
2. Zuko joins the Gaang, but Katara isn’t quite ready to forgive him yet. Their interactions, especially on Katara’s part, are highly charged. (This is important.)
3. Zuko desperately wants to gain Katara’s acceptance, to the point where he waits outside her tent all night just to talk to her. He then uses their shared bond - the loss of their mothers - to restart their connection. While Katara ultimately doesn’t take revenge, she comes to forgive Zuko, and they work well together as a team.
4. Aang wants to know why he and Katara haven’t progressed as a couple since their kiss at the invasion. Katara tells him she’s confused, and is justifiably upset when he tries to kiss her again anyway. They have basically no direct interaction after this until the coda of the finale.
5. In the lead up to the showdown with the Fire Lord, Zuko and Katara are often paired up. They’re a team during the battle with Melon Lord, they take charge of the Gaang when Aang disappears (although most of the leadership does go to Zuko, to be fair), and they go to face Azula together. Along the way, Zuko calms Katara, Katara reassures Zuko, and he looks to her when he needs help. Also, June provides some Ship Tease, although this was probably just the writers’ nod to their fanbase.
6. Then there’s the fight with Azula. I challenge you to find a sequence that’s more blatantly Zutara. He freaking takes a bolt of lightning for her. And while, yes, it is thematically significant that Zuko and Katara are working together to take down an enemy instead of being enemies during a finale, I maintain that if the writers had let the story take a natural course, this would have been the time for a Relationship Upgrade. The part where she heals him and they thank each other, Katara with tears in her eyes and a smile on her face, is just begging for romantic resolution.
7. My biggest problem with the Kataang relationship is that it feels too one-sided. There have been moments where I believed Katara returned Aang’s feelings (“The Cave of Two Lovers,” “The Headband”), but they’re few and far between. Now, after Katara has told Aang she’s confused, she suddenly decides she wants him as soon as he’s defeated the Fire Lord. I do like that she’s the one who makes the move, but I can’t buy it. It makes Katara look like Aang’s reward, and I think that’s a disservice to both their characters. Aang saved the world, and that’s great, but Katara doesn’t owe him anything for that. I don’t really see Katara making a choice, here. I see pride in a good friend, I see affection. What I don’t see (or buy, at least) is romantic attraction.
Also, I would have been fine with a peck on the cheek or even a quick kiss on the lips. But it honestly kind of squicks me out - Aang is 12 (for all intents and purposes), and he and Katara share a very adult sort of kiss. He just doesn’t feel grown up enough for something like that, not least because I felt his character didn’t do enough growing up in the finale. This is a problem I consistently had with Aang’s development; I rolled my eyes when 12-year-old Aang said he loved Katara in “The Crossroads of Destiny,” too.
8. Thematically, at least in my eyes, a Katara/Zuko relationship would have been a better choice. They have a great connection, especially because they’re similar enough to understand each other really well. Their interactions are charged - Katara seems to respond far more to Zuko than she ever did to Aang, and she never treated him like she was his mother. By the end of the series, Katara and Zuko seemed closer than Katara and Aang. And, well, if you want me to support Kataang, I think that’s a problem.
So I echo everything in this post, and add that this is something Mike and Bryan should keep in mind (or, at least, I hope they had in mind) when they were developing Legend of Korra. I’m not a Zutara fangirl who liked them because they’d be ~omg so hawt~ together (although I do think they look better together than Aang and Katara do, mostly because Aang is still prepubescent). I liked them together because it seemed like a natural conclusion for their characters and their development, and I know I’m not the only one that feels that way. To me, they are the great relationship that could have been. That they didn’t happen, and that (to me) the Kataang relationship feels forced, are some of Avatar’s very few flaws.
Anyway, happy Monday, and happy Day Before the State of the Union Day!
These are main characters from Avatar: The Legend of Korra. I realize this show has not yet been released, but since I am still ridiculously excited for it, I decided to try my hand at drawing the trio of Korra, Mako, and Bolin. I also drew a picture of Aang and Katara's granddaughters Jinora and Ikki, but I'm not especially happy with it, so I don't think I'll put it online. By the way, is it strange that I really don't like the Aang/Katara pairing but am fangirling like crazy over pictures of their son and his adorable airbending family? Something to ponder, anyway.
This is Katara. She's not my favorite ATLA character, but she's still awesome and probably the most like me. She can waterbend, and since that is my preferred element in the Avatar world, I feel that I am obligated to like her. Anyway. Yes, Katara. She's fun to draw. I'm especially proud of the lower lefthand image. I think I did a good job with her face and her hair. Also, hands are really hard to draw, but I did it!
I drew this today. It's Katara and Zuko who should have ended up together from the finale. The background is a little iffy, but I think I did a reasonably good job with the characters.
Also, who wants some tl;dr about Avatar shipping? Here, have this exchange from my Tumblr from a few months ago:
Tumblr user beeftony:
I hate when people try and justify Zutara by saying that “opposites attract.” Zuko and Katara are not opposites. They bend opposing elements, yes, but let’s consider the facts. They both:Me from the past (as Tumblr user secondhermione):
All of which paints a picture of two people who can relate to each other on an emotional level because they are so goddamn similar. The main thing that separates them is how they reacted to their circumstances, and their relationship with what remains of their families. What keeps them apart is largely circumstantial, and if things had gone differently they may very well have ended up together.
- Have a distant father figure
- Lost their mothers at a young age
- Have a sibling who is more eager to fight than they are
- Had to grow up before they should have
- Have serious anger issues
Zuko and Aang had parallel journeys, but Zuko and Katara reflect one another. That’s different from being opposites, and it’s better for a long term relationship if they have things in common.
That’s why I ship it, anyway.
This actually makes a lot of sense. When I started watching Avatar during my first semester of college, well after the series had ended, I had no expectations for shipping (although I had certainly heard of the shipping wars). During books one and two, I thought Kataang was sort of blandly cute, even if it bothered me that Katara didn’t really seem to reciprocate Aang’s feelings (“The Cave of Two Lovers” being a notable exception). I was intrigued by Zuko and Katara’s dynamic, but I’m decidedly not one of those shippers that enjoys the “I’ll save you from the pirates” scene. Sorry, I’m not really into foe-yay.
I became a Zutara shipper after “The Crossroads of Destiny.” By that point, I knew Kataang was going to be endgame, so I didn’t actually expect anything to happen between Zuko and Katara. But I still think that post-series, they became very close friends at the very least, precisely because they have this shared connection. She’s water and he’s fire, but they’re really very similar, and they’ve both lost their mothers. I think they understand each other quite well, perhaps more than they care to admit.
Which leads me to the end of book three. I honestly believe that the writers made a few significant fumbles here, if they wanted us to support the Aang/Katara pairing. Katara needed to forgive and accept Zuko, but the way it was done created the problem of making them very close emotionally. Look at the way they interact with each other, post-“The Southern Raiders.” Zuko turns to Katara for reassurance and understanding, and she to him. When Aang is missing, when Zuko is afraid to face his uncle, when they’re preparing for the showdown with Azula, they find comfort in one another. While this certainly can be applied to their budding friendship, the way their relationship arc was progressing, it seems like the next natural step would have been to start a romance, particularly with Katara pushing Aang away and telling him that she was confused.
Basically, here’s how I see it:
1. Zuko and Katara connect over the mutual loss of their mothers in Ba Sing Se. He then sides with Azula, which Katara takes quite personally.
2. Zuko joins the Gaang, but Katara isn’t quite ready to forgive him yet. Their interactions, especially on Katara’s part, are highly charged. (This is important.)
3. Zuko desperately wants to gain Katara’s acceptance, to the point where he waits outside her tent all night just to talk to her. He then uses their shared bond - the loss of their mothers - to restart their connection. While Katara ultimately doesn’t take revenge, she comes to forgive Zuko, and they work well together as a team.
4. Aang wants to know why he and Katara haven’t progressed as a couple since their kiss at the invasion. Katara tells him she’s confused, and is justifiably upset when he tries to kiss her again anyway. They have basically no direct interaction after this until the coda of the finale.
5. In the lead up to the showdown with the Fire Lord, Zuko and Katara are often paired up. They’re a team during the battle with Melon Lord, they take charge of the Gaang when Aang disappears (although most of the leadership does go to Zuko, to be fair), and they go to face Azula together. Along the way, Zuko calms Katara, Katara reassures Zuko, and he looks to her when he needs help. Also, June provides some Ship Tease, although this was probably just the writers’ nod to their fanbase.
6. Then there’s the fight with Azula. I challenge you to find a sequence that’s more blatantly Zutara. He freaking takes a bolt of lightning for her. And while, yes, it is thematically significant that Zuko and Katara are working together to take down an enemy instead of being enemies during a finale, I maintain that if the writers had let the story take a natural course, this would have been the time for a Relationship Upgrade. The part where she heals him and they thank each other, Katara with tears in her eyes and a smile on her face, is just begging for romantic resolution.
7. My biggest problem with the Kataang relationship is that it feels too one-sided. There have been moments where I believed Katara returned Aang’s feelings (“The Cave of Two Lovers,” “The Headband”), but they’re few and far between. Now, after Katara has told Aang she’s confused, she suddenly decides she wants him as soon as he’s defeated the Fire Lord. I do like that she’s the one who makes the move, but I can’t buy it. It makes Katara look like Aang’s reward, and I think that’s a disservice to both their characters. Aang saved the world, and that’s great, but Katara doesn’t owe him anything for that. I don’t really see Katara making a choice, here. I see pride in a good friend, I see affection. What I don’t see (or buy, at least) is romantic attraction.
Also, I would have been fine with a peck on the cheek or even a quick kiss on the lips. But it honestly kind of squicks me out - Aang is 12 (for all intents and purposes), and he and Katara share a very adult sort of kiss. He just doesn’t feel grown up enough for something like that, not least because I felt his character didn’t do enough growing up in the finale. This is a problem I consistently had with Aang’s development; I rolled my eyes when 12-year-old Aang said he loved Katara in “The Crossroads of Destiny,” too.
8. Thematically, at least in my eyes, a Katara/Zuko relationship would have been a better choice. They have a great connection, especially because they’re similar enough to understand each other really well. Their interactions are charged - Katara seems to respond far more to Zuko than she ever did to Aang, and she never treated him like she was his mother. By the end of the series, Katara and Zuko seemed closer than Katara and Aang. And, well, if you want me to support Kataang, I think that’s a problem.
So I echo everything in this post, and add that this is something Mike and Bryan should keep in mind (or, at least, I hope they had in mind) when they were developing Legend of Korra. I’m not a Zutara fangirl who liked them because they’d be ~omg so hawt~ together (although I do think they look better together than Aang and Katara do, mostly because Aang is still prepubescent). I liked them together because it seemed like a natural conclusion for their characters and their development, and I know I’m not the only one that feels that way. To me, they are the great relationship that could have been. That they didn’t happen, and that (to me) the Kataang relationship feels forced, are some of Avatar’s very few flaws.
Me in the present: Wow, that was long. I just have a lot of feelings about Zutara, guys.
Saturday, September 17, 2011
Fall and the Swing of Things
I've had a sore throat all day, so I think I'm going to go to bed soon (eleven o'clock is so early for me, you don't even know), but I wanted to write a quick update since I've been fairly infrequent about posting this week. Yesterday was my first calculus test, which as last night's post might indicate, could have gone better. I was confident about half of it, and probably got considerable partial credit on the rest, so naturally I left the test room more than a little upset. Today, though, was quite nice, apart from the sore throat. It was my usual Friday routine (class, lunch, work), and it was chilly, only about 64 or so at most, but there was something comforting in the normalcy of it, I guess. After work, I met Sarah for dinner, and then we went to Whole Foods, my little slice of heaven on earth. I now have a fridge full of whole wheat pita bread, hummus, red grapes, yogurt, and a little bit of goat cheese, which I love. Leslie had referred me to the LivingSocial $20 worth of groceries for $10 deal, so I ended up only paying 50 cents for all of it (well, $10.50 total, I suppose, but I only had to pull out five dimes at the register). Then I decided on impulse to go to the gym, which probably didn't help my throat but felt good nonetheless. I ran an entire mile without stopping tonight; that was actually my gym goal for the semester, so I guess I'm going to shoot for two miles without stopping or completing a mile in under 10 minutes (that and losing 15 pounds, but I don't want to be unreasonable about things). I also made considerable headway on my study abroad application and had a nice conversation with my dad. All in all, a decent Friday.
Monday, August 15, 2011
Applying the Bechdel Test to Sports Night [SPOILERS]
TV Tropes defines the Bechdel Test as "a sort of litmus test for female presence in movies and TV; in order to pass, the fictional work must show at least two women having at least one conversation about something other than a man or men." While it is not necessarily indicative of the overall level of feminism, it is nonetheless an important indicator of how society perceives women in relation to men.
Lately I've been applying Bechdel to everything I read and watch. It's been a fascinating and illuminating experience. With Sports Night, it can be downright infuriating. I want so much to love it, because it's an Aaron Sorkin show and The West Wing is my all-time favorite. But most Sports Night episodes fail the Bechdel Test so hard. In some ways, the odds are stacked against it from the beginning. Only two of the regulars are women, and it's a show about a sports show, which is definitely a male-dominated field. It's just really annoying, though, when you realize that you can practically count on one hand the number of conversations Dana and Natalie have that aren't about men. Goodness gracious.
I'm also find the attitudes most of the men on the show have toward women to be very grating. I really do like Sorkin as a writer, but so many of his male characters are incredibly patronizing to women, even women they supposedly respect enough to want to date. Apparently his idea of romantic is to have a man ask a woman out repeatedly, only for her to be ~charmed~ by his persistence and graciously accept his offer at the end. Excuse me, no. This approach rubbed me the wrong way when Sorkin used it with Bradley Whitford's character on Studio 60, and it's annoying me now with Dan and Rebecca on Sports Night. Then there's the current drama, in which Casey, who is supposedly in love with Dana, sleeps with a woman she hates, Sally, and then later finds out that Dana's fiance is also sleeping with this woman. Casey then calls Dana's fiance out on his behavior but doesn't bother to tell Dana about the affair, because that would mean admitting he's seeing Sally. I'm not finished with the season yet, so maybe I'm just getting peeved off for nothing, but as it is I get the impression that Sorkin wants to present Casey's actions as commendable. That is such a ridiculous double standard to me. I want to like the characters, I really do. For the most part, I do like Jeremy, Natalie, and Isaac. I just wish they would stop perpetuating stupid, sexist attitudes.
I should note, however, that while Sorkin's portrayal of women can be flawed, he has created some genuinely awesome and feminist female characters. C.J. Cregg and Abbey Bartlet are both amazing role models. I also love Donna Moss, although I will admit her role is a bit more problematic. I'm a big fan of the Josh/Donna relationship, for example, but at least for the first five seasons Donna's position is inherently dependent on and subservient to Josh's. She's younger, and a college drop-out. Josh is clearly presented as the superior in almost all aspects. While I think I would have enjoyed seeing them get together during the Sorkin years, I'm glad that when they finally did hook up in season seven, Donna was no longer Josh's assistant, and she actually made sure that when she got a job in the new administration, she wasn't working directly for Josh. Anyway, C.J. and Abbey are great characters and I commend Sorkin for doing a relatively good job with them.
I'll continue to apply the Bechdel Test as I work through the show. Hopefully things improve; I really do want to see more from Natalie and Dana, who have the potential to be awesome when they aren't so hung up on relationships.
Lately I've been applying Bechdel to everything I read and watch. It's been a fascinating and illuminating experience. With Sports Night, it can be downright infuriating. I want so much to love it, because it's an Aaron Sorkin show and The West Wing is my all-time favorite. But most Sports Night episodes fail the Bechdel Test so hard. In some ways, the odds are stacked against it from the beginning. Only two of the regulars are women, and it's a show about a sports show, which is definitely a male-dominated field. It's just really annoying, though, when you realize that you can practically count on one hand the number of conversations Dana and Natalie have that aren't about men. Goodness gracious.
I'm also find the attitudes most of the men on the show have toward women to be very grating. I really do like Sorkin as a writer, but so many of his male characters are incredibly patronizing to women, even women they supposedly respect enough to want to date. Apparently his idea of romantic is to have a man ask a woman out repeatedly, only for her to be ~charmed~ by his persistence and graciously accept his offer at the end. Excuse me, no. This approach rubbed me the wrong way when Sorkin used it with Bradley Whitford's character on Studio 60, and it's annoying me now with Dan and Rebecca on Sports Night. Then there's the current drama, in which Casey, who is supposedly in love with Dana, sleeps with a woman she hates, Sally, and then later finds out that Dana's fiance is also sleeping with this woman. Casey then calls Dana's fiance out on his behavior but doesn't bother to tell Dana about the affair, because that would mean admitting he's seeing Sally. I'm not finished with the season yet, so maybe I'm just getting peeved off for nothing, but as it is I get the impression that Sorkin wants to present Casey's actions as commendable. That is such a ridiculous double standard to me. I want to like the characters, I really do. For the most part, I do like Jeremy, Natalie, and Isaac. I just wish they would stop perpetuating stupid, sexist attitudes.
I should note, however, that while Sorkin's portrayal of women can be flawed, he has created some genuinely awesome and feminist female characters. C.J. Cregg and Abbey Bartlet are both amazing role models. I also love Donna Moss, although I will admit her role is a bit more problematic. I'm a big fan of the Josh/Donna relationship, for example, but at least for the first five seasons Donna's position is inherently dependent on and subservient to Josh's. She's younger, and a college drop-out. Josh is clearly presented as the superior in almost all aspects. While I think I would have enjoyed seeing them get together during the Sorkin years, I'm glad that when they finally did hook up in season seven, Donna was no longer Josh's assistant, and she actually made sure that when she got a job in the new administration, she wasn't working directly for Josh. Anyway, C.J. and Abbey are great characters and I commend Sorkin for doing a relatively good job with them.
I'll continue to apply the Bechdel Test as I work through the show. Hopefully things improve; I really do want to see more from Natalie and Dana, who have the potential to be awesome when they aren't so hung up on relationships.
Sunday, August 7, 2011
Batman: The Animated Series (with commentary by yours truly!)
I am a nerd. This should come as no surprise to anyone who claims to know me even a little. It is just one of those things. Is the sky blue? Does winter follow autumn? Do fish live in the ocean? Is Aida a nerd?
Now that we have established my nerdiness, I feel I should mention my desire to imbibe as many nerdy things as possible. Discoveries of sites like TV Tropes only serve to make this dream more realistic. One of my particular realms of nerdiness is Western animation. Another is the superhero genre. If you happen to be a big fan of either of these things, and especially of you’re a fan of both, you hear a lot about Batman: The Animated Series. Supposedly it is a touchstone of American television animation. It has a reputation for being edgy, revolutionary even. Some of this is overblown fanboy adoration, but a show doesn’t get that kind of buzz without at least some merit. Bearing that in mind, I added Batman: The Animated Series to my Netflix queue ages ago with the intention of being a good nerd and watching it. Well, I’ve finally gotten around to doing so. I have to say, I’m a little underwhelmed. It was fine. I loved the music. The animation was so-so. Disliked the character design, felt the storytelling was inconsistent. However, I have only seen the first seven episodes and am willing to give the next seven a chance, whenever Netflix gets around to sending me another disk.
I decided to record my impressions in note form while I watched the episodes. I have transcribed them in their entirety below. Most of my notes will only make sense if you’ve actually seen the episodes, but I hope you enjoy them nonetheless. Keep in mind that most of these were written between midnight and two in the morning. I’ve never had a drink in my life before, but I imagine that how I act in the wee hours of the morning is similar to how the typical intoxicated person would. Now that you know this, here are my reactions to the first seven episodes of Batman: The Animated Series.
Sunday, July 31, 2011
Guess What? I'm Posting About Akage no Anne Again!
Let's have another bullet point list, shall we?
- I'm enjoying this so much. I really might like it better than the Sullivan films. Sure, it's anime and it's in Japanese, but it's so well-made I don't even care. I can't believe I haven't watched this before now!
- I ought to finish the entire series tomorrow. In some ways I'm sad, because I've loved it so much and I don't want it to end. That's what the books are for, though! I even had the forethought not to put my copy of Anne of Green Gables in storage with the rest of my books, so once I finish Howl's Moving Castle I think I'll reread Anne.
- I finally thought to take notes while I was watching today, so here are my scattered thoughts:
- According to the subtitles, Japanese promos are so much politer than American ones. Instead of telling their viewers to "Tune in next week!" or "Don't miss the next episode!" they respectfully implore you to "please watch" or "please wait and see." It makes me laugh.
- The English loan words are easy to decipher. "Cake," "ice cream," "Christmas," and "present" are all as they are in English. None of the names have been changed either, so you get to listen to Japanese voice actors pronounce "Anne Shirley," "Gilbert Blythe," and "Marilla Cuthbert." I think my favorite bit is when Anne calls Diana's mother "Barry-san," haha.
- I was amused by the Anne-dyes-her-hair-green fiasco as always, but I call shenanigans on Anne having her hair pixie-cut in March and then it all being back to normal (almost waist-length) by August. Nope. Speaking from experience, hair growth doesn't work that way.
- The English writing in the backgrounds is usually quite good, but every once in a while I'll catch some errors. When Anne and Diana went to visit Aunt Josephine in Charlottetown, they walked under a banner proclaiming the "83th" exhibition. Then in Anne's nightmare, Ruby Gillis's name was spelt with two b's.
- Speaking of Ruby, there was a moment when she was in hysterics over being caught in a snowstorm at school, and Miss Stacy slapped her! It sounds terrible, but in context it was so funny. I actually laughed out loud.
- Funny visual: Aunt Josephine rides a carousel with Anne and Diana.
- There was an anecdote I don't remember from the book where the hired man, Jerry, tricks Anne into thinking she'd eaten poisoned apples and was about to die. She then goes on to write farewell notes to Matthew, Marilla, and Diana, and they were so melodramatic I nearly keeled over myself from laughing so hard. Oh, Anne.
- The most recent episode I watched (#37) had Charlottetown mistranslated as "Charlottesville" in the subtitles. Of course it was completely unintentional, but as someone who left home to go to school in a city called Charlottesville, it made me unexpectedly emotional.
- This episode also happened to feature Marilla reflecting on Anne growing up. There was even a shot of fifteen-year-old Anne holding up the dress she had come to Green Gables from the orphanage in and laughing at how small it was. Are you trying to break my heart, show? Marilla cried and I have to admit, I sniffled a little, too. Many of my friends talk about how now that the Harry Potter movies are over, so are their childhoods. I don't quite feel that way, since I think that that series ended with the books anyway, but something about watching Anne grow up really hit home. And I'm just the growing up one. I can't imagine how my mother would feel, especially seeing as she's about to send my brother off to college, too.
- Gilbert is growing up very nicely indeed. (Note to self: He's fictional and still a teenager, at least in this story. Stop thinking what you're thinking at once!)
- I will never not love the "Unfortunate Lily Maid" sequence, in any incarnation.
- Some pics from Akage no Anne:
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| Anne and Matthew |
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| Marilla. Strangely, whenever an important character is introduced, they are surrounded by a flowery frame, as seen above. I think this is probably a Japanese thing. |
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| Anne and Diana, making their vow of friendship. |
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| Young Gilbert |
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| Why so adorable, Gilbert? |
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| Older Anne. |
Sunday, July 17, 2011
IntenseDebate and Further Thoughts on Deathly Hallows (Mostly the Book)
Hey everyone! In honor of Wordbender's first birthday, I've installed an easy-to-use comment system called IntenseDebate. While you are free to sign up for an account with them, I chose to enlist their services in the first place because logging in to leave comments is not required. I love hearing from people who read this blog, and now you can do it simpler than ever before! You don't even have to leave an email address. Please give it a try!
In other news, I'm still mulling over Deathly Hallows in my mind, and this morning I came to a realization. This isn't a movie spoiler because it applies primarily to the book. Four years ago when we all read it for the first time, I heard a lot of criticism to the effect of, "Harry and Voldemort's final showdown is anticlimactic! All they do is talk." Which is fair, and something I thought at first as well. But then it hit me: Harry and Voldemort's confrontation is anticlimactic because it's not the climax.
Stay with me here. In past Rowling interviews, I've heard her refer to the scene in the Great Hall as the denouement. This struck me as odd, but I figured she meant to say climax and had just misspoken. Now, though, I'd like to instead posit that everything after "The Forest Again" really does constitute the denouement, or the falling action. The climax is when Harry gives himself up, intends to die, and doesn't.
I think we've been trained to expect that a final showdown is automatically the climax of any piece of fiction. Certainly I think that's the route the film went with, hence all the gratuitous spell-casting and flying around Hogwarts. Take a look, though, at how Rowling builds tension throughout "The Prince's Tale" and especially "The Forest Again." Harry believes he is heading to his death, and I firmly believe that his walk through the Forest is some of Rowling's best and most emotional writing of the series. He thinks of his friends and of Ginny. He longs to have just a few more minutes to live, to experience. There's a note of finality to everything he says or does. I remember reading this chapter the first time, and feeling surprisingly angry. I was upset with Rowling for killing Harry off, when there was so much more I wanted for him. But I believed her. As much as my entire brain was protesting, once Harry accepted that he would have to die, so did I. So the chapter builds to the moment where Voldemort strikes Harry down, and it really does feel like a climax ought to. Examples:
"At that moment he felt that nobody mattered but Voldemort. It was just the two of them."
"Harry looked back into the red eyes, and wanted it to happen now, quickly, while he could still stand, before he lost control, before he betrayed fear."
Then, of course, Harry is hit with the AK. I remember feeling completely and utterly shocked. It really is one of the most important moments in the series, and rife with Christian symbolism. Indeed, if one looks at the Bible as literature (as I do, while also seeing it as its own Truth), what can the climax of the Gospels be other than Jesus's death on the Cross?
After this point in the novel, while there are exciting, tension-building moments (Molly and Bellatrix, Neville and Nagini), Harry has cleared the most significant hurdle. Sure, he does need to confront Voldemort, and explain. And there is something of a secondary climax, in that moment in the Great Hall where Voldemort is undone by his own killing curse just as the sun rises, and Harry catches the Elder Wand. But from "King's Cross" onward, we know Harry will come through this okay. "The Flaw in the Plan" resolves plotlines and finally puts an end to Voldemort, but this is characteristic of denouements. Much like in Goblet of Fire, where the climax lies firmly in the graveyard, but there are still exciting moments to come, like the revelation of Moody's true identity. Harry has faced down death with love, and won, and by the time he and Voldemort come face to face again, he knows it. Hence all the talking. This doesn't need to be action-heavy (although we do get some of that). We just need to understand as Harry does.
A lot of people hated the epilogue. Even I remember being a bit put-off by it on my first read. I think this is partially because, particularly if you're looking at the final showdown as a climax, you haven't really had time to catch your breath before a drastic time jump forward and a sudden change in tone. There's still probably some improvement that could be done there. But if you're looking at "The Forest Again" as the climax, I would argue that the epilogue's placement and setting are more natural. The themes of parental love, forgiveness, and family are all present in that chapter, and they're certainly present in the epilogue. In "The Forest Again," Harry is just starting to grasp the impact of Snape's actions; by the time the epilogue rolls around, his feelings have come full circle, and he's come to respect Snape's sacrifices so much he names his son after him. Lily and James stood beside Harry until the very end; now another Lily and James bring Harry comfort and happiness. Ginny, the last subject of Harry's thoughts before death, is now his loving wife. The epilogue also represents what Harry was willing to give his life for: a better future for a new generation. Teddy Lupin, whose story intentionally mirrors Harry's, has not had the same childhood full of pain and angst. He's now a young man in a loving relationship, who comes by his godfather's house for dinner several times a week and is adored by Harry's children. The Potter and Weasley children have their whole lives ahead of them, full of possibility and promise. Thanks to Harry's bravery, the worst anxiety Al and Rose have to face is what House they will be put into. Perhaps it is a bit cheesy, but it's also really powerful. Harry's journey and drive to do the right thing has given him exactly what he always wanted: a family.
Well, this started out as one realization and turned into a defense of the epilogue, but I think both points are valid. I might do another post tonight on my mental picture of the characters, since I'm on such an HP kick, but in the meantime, let me know what you think in the comments!
In other news, I'm still mulling over Deathly Hallows in my mind, and this morning I came to a realization. This isn't a movie spoiler because it applies primarily to the book. Four years ago when we all read it for the first time, I heard a lot of criticism to the effect of, "Harry and Voldemort's final showdown is anticlimactic! All they do is talk." Which is fair, and something I thought at first as well. But then it hit me: Harry and Voldemort's confrontation is anticlimactic because it's not the climax.
Stay with me here. In past Rowling interviews, I've heard her refer to the scene in the Great Hall as the denouement. This struck me as odd, but I figured she meant to say climax and had just misspoken. Now, though, I'd like to instead posit that everything after "The Forest Again" really does constitute the denouement, or the falling action. The climax is when Harry gives himself up, intends to die, and doesn't.
I think we've been trained to expect that a final showdown is automatically the climax of any piece of fiction. Certainly I think that's the route the film went with, hence all the gratuitous spell-casting and flying around Hogwarts. Take a look, though, at how Rowling builds tension throughout "The Prince's Tale" and especially "The Forest Again." Harry believes he is heading to his death, and I firmly believe that his walk through the Forest is some of Rowling's best and most emotional writing of the series. He thinks of his friends and of Ginny. He longs to have just a few more minutes to live, to experience. There's a note of finality to everything he says or does. I remember reading this chapter the first time, and feeling surprisingly angry. I was upset with Rowling for killing Harry off, when there was so much more I wanted for him. But I believed her. As much as my entire brain was protesting, once Harry accepted that he would have to die, so did I. So the chapter builds to the moment where Voldemort strikes Harry down, and it really does feel like a climax ought to. Examples:
"At that moment he felt that nobody mattered but Voldemort. It was just the two of them."
"Harry looked back into the red eyes, and wanted it to happen now, quickly, while he could still stand, before he lost control, before he betrayed fear."
Then, of course, Harry is hit with the AK. I remember feeling completely and utterly shocked. It really is one of the most important moments in the series, and rife with Christian symbolism. Indeed, if one looks at the Bible as literature (as I do, while also seeing it as its own Truth), what can the climax of the Gospels be other than Jesus's death on the Cross?
After this point in the novel, while there are exciting, tension-building moments (Molly and Bellatrix, Neville and Nagini), Harry has cleared the most significant hurdle. Sure, he does need to confront Voldemort, and explain. And there is something of a secondary climax, in that moment in the Great Hall where Voldemort is undone by his own killing curse just as the sun rises, and Harry catches the Elder Wand. But from "King's Cross" onward, we know Harry will come through this okay. "The Flaw in the Plan" resolves plotlines and finally puts an end to Voldemort, but this is characteristic of denouements. Much like in Goblet of Fire, where the climax lies firmly in the graveyard, but there are still exciting moments to come, like the revelation of Moody's true identity. Harry has faced down death with love, and won, and by the time he and Voldemort come face to face again, he knows it. Hence all the talking. This doesn't need to be action-heavy (although we do get some of that). We just need to understand as Harry does.
A lot of people hated the epilogue. Even I remember being a bit put-off by it on my first read. I think this is partially because, particularly if you're looking at the final showdown as a climax, you haven't really had time to catch your breath before a drastic time jump forward and a sudden change in tone. There's still probably some improvement that could be done there. But if you're looking at "The Forest Again" as the climax, I would argue that the epilogue's placement and setting are more natural. The themes of parental love, forgiveness, and family are all present in that chapter, and they're certainly present in the epilogue. In "The Forest Again," Harry is just starting to grasp the impact of Snape's actions; by the time the epilogue rolls around, his feelings have come full circle, and he's come to respect Snape's sacrifices so much he names his son after him. Lily and James stood beside Harry until the very end; now another Lily and James bring Harry comfort and happiness. Ginny, the last subject of Harry's thoughts before death, is now his loving wife. The epilogue also represents what Harry was willing to give his life for: a better future for a new generation. Teddy Lupin, whose story intentionally mirrors Harry's, has not had the same childhood full of pain and angst. He's now a young man in a loving relationship, who comes by his godfather's house for dinner several times a week and is adored by Harry's children. The Potter and Weasley children have their whole lives ahead of them, full of possibility and promise. Thanks to Harry's bravery, the worst anxiety Al and Rose have to face is what House they will be put into. Perhaps it is a bit cheesy, but it's also really powerful. Harry's journey and drive to do the right thing has given him exactly what he always wanted: a family.
Well, this started out as one realization and turned into a defense of the epilogue, but I think both points are valid. I might do another post tonight on my mental picture of the characters, since I'm on such an HP kick, but in the meantime, let me know what you think in the comments!
Thinky Thoughts About Deathly Hallows [SPOILERS, Natch] and a Blogiversary
As I have discovered with Order of the Phoenix and Deathly Hallows: Part 1, a person does not recover from a midnight showing in a day. Staying up until 4:30 in the morning really does take a lot out of you (who'd've thunk?). However, I'm basically back to normal now, other than a bit of residual sleepiness. First off, I loved it. Deathly Hallows is my favorite book in the history of ever, and I truly believe the films did it justice. Great job, David Yates and Co. That being said, I should note I purposely did not reread the book before seeing the movie. Most of the novel is pretty much seared into my memory anyway, but I find that having it fresh in mind just before seeing the film ruins my experience. I get annoyed enough about things the filmmakers do wrong without recently rereading. The books are always going to be better than the movies, but I do want to give the films the benefit of the doubt.
So, bearing in mind some of the finer points have escaped my memory since my last reread, here are my bullet points (below the cut, SPOILER ALERT):
So, bearing in mind some of the finer points have escaped my memory since my last reread, here are my bullet points (below the cut, SPOILER ALERT):
Thursday, July 7, 2011
The Time Traveler's Wife, Part II [SPOILERS]
Well, I just finished reading The Time Traveler's Wife. It took me five days to read the first half, but I flew through the second half in the usual Aida way. Some people run marathons; I marathon books. Anyway, I still don't know what I think of it. I almost cried at the end, and yet at the same time I was so frustrated with the characters, especially Clare, that I couldn't really bring myself to feel more than I actually did. When I read about time travel, I vastly prefer Stable Time Loops, which just make so much sense. But this fatalistic attitude Henry and Clare had, that everything was predestined, annoyed the hell out of me. It was downright depressing to read at times. Things did get considerably more interesting once Alba came into the picture (and yes, I was right about Henry meeting another time traveler, although I never dreamed it would be his own daughter), I will grant Niffenegger that. I did care about what happened to her, and I was sad for Clare throughout her miscarriages (although adoption is not pretending, Clare). Maybe it's because I have a burning desire to have a family of my own someday (not anytime soon, mind you; 20 is waaay too young to be having children), but I'm immensely interested in family dynamics in fiction. I digress. My point is that I'm still not sure I liked it as a complete work, but I definitely liked bits and pieces.
Other notes behind the cut:
Other notes behind the cut:
Wednesday, July 6, 2011
The Time Traveler's Wife, Part I [SPOILERS]
I'm roughly at the halfway point in my reading of The Time Traveler's Wife. Honestly, I'm still not sure if I like it, but this is me we're talking about; I only put down a book if I would rather spork my eyes out than read it, and sometimes not even then (I did, after all, read the Twilight books). The Time Traveler's Wife is definitely readable. Niffenegger's prose is solid, though there are a few passages that read oddly, especially the constant mentions of bands I've only heard of because I'm friends with Sara Morrow. The problem is that in certain places Niffenegger thinks she's writing poetry, and it doesn't work. I have nothing against nice lyrical prose from time to time. Niffenegger overdoes it.
I guess I would say that I am not disliking it, but I don't love it. Henry and Clare are rather bland, inoffensive protagonists. I don't really care about them like I ought to. I suppose it's because I'm still having misgivings about their love story. Clare spends her entire life saving herself for Henry, practically worshipping him - there's even a line early on to the tune of "she was looking at [Henry] as if [he] were her own personal God." Meanwhile, Henry gets to mess around with every girl he meets until he and Clare finally come across each other in his present. Maybe it's just because I loathe the A Man is Not a Virgin double standard, but that aspect of their relationship is not sitting right with me. There's also not much of a plot at this point, and while I still have half the novel to go, I'm wondering where exactly Niffenegger is going with this. So Henry has his time traveling problem, and Clare is his Penelope, waiting patiently for him to come back to her every time he inadvertently slips off. Since Henry can't control his time traveling, is apparently the only person who experiences this problem, and has been talking to doctors about it, I'm guessing he'll either meet another time traveler, find a cure, or both. I also don't know what the significance of various characters warning Clare about Henry is. Maybe she'll realize that as much as she thinks she's destined to be with Henry, end of story, there's more their situation than meets the eye? Yeah, I don't know. I'll admit I'm not a fan of the concept of soulmates or fate, although at the same time I believe in God and an underlying pattern to the universe, so... welcome to another Aida paradox, I guess. We'll see if Niffenegger can make me buy it. I'll post again after I've finished the book.
I guess I would say that I am not disliking it, but I don't love it. Henry and Clare are rather bland, inoffensive protagonists. I don't really care about them like I ought to. I suppose it's because I'm still having misgivings about their love story. Clare spends her entire life saving herself for Henry, practically worshipping him - there's even a line early on to the tune of "she was looking at [Henry] as if [he] were her own personal God." Meanwhile, Henry gets to mess around with every girl he meets until he and Clare finally come across each other in his present. Maybe it's just because I loathe the A Man is Not a Virgin double standard, but that aspect of their relationship is not sitting right with me. There's also not much of a plot at this point, and while I still have half the novel to go, I'm wondering where exactly Niffenegger is going with this. So Henry has his time traveling problem, and Clare is his Penelope, waiting patiently for him to come back to her every time he inadvertently slips off. Since Henry can't control his time traveling, is apparently the only person who experiences this problem, and has been talking to doctors about it, I'm guessing he'll either meet another time traveler, find a cure, or both. I also don't know what the significance of various characters warning Clare about Henry is. Maybe she'll realize that as much as she thinks she's destined to be with Henry, end of story, there's more their situation than meets the eye? Yeah, I don't know. I'll admit I'm not a fan of the concept of soulmates or fate, although at the same time I believe in God and an underlying pattern to the universe, so... welcome to another Aida paradox, I guess. We'll see if Niffenegger can make me buy it. I'll post again after I've finished the book.
Friday, June 17, 2011
"Breathtaking"
For those that don't know, I am a Harry Potter fanatic. My grandparents gave me a boxed set of the first four books as an early Christmas present during my family's Thanksgiving visit in 2000, before we moved to Costa Rica. I had read the first three chapters of Philosopher's Stone (the proper title) back in third grade, but I wasn't interested in reading a book with a boy as the main character. Yuck. However, ten-year-old Aida rationalized that that boxed set had probably been rather expensive, and her grandparents would probably appreciate it if she gave the books another try, since it was a special gift and all. Chapter Four is when Harry finds out he's a wizard. I was crazy about magic and witches and anything to do with the fantasy genre when I was in fourth grade (and I was a voracious reader, even then). Needless to say, I was hooked almost instantly. I just didn't know that ten years later, I would be equally, if not even more, obsessed.
The Harry Potter books are important to me. Looking back, I don't know if I can adequately explain how I grew to love them so dearly. J. K. Rowling is not Shakespeare, but when I was ten years old her weaknesses as a writer (of which there are very, very few, though I will grudgingly admit they do exist) didn't matter to me. I think, whatever you may say about her writing, Jo Rowling is a master storyteller. She knows innately what readers will find gripping. She takes care with her planning and her details. She does foreshadowing better than any other author I've read. Most of all, she creates characters that feel real, that you love and you worry about. I know that there are several legitimate criticisms one can make about the series, but obviously it struck a deep chord with readers worldwide, especially (though certainly not exclusively) those of my generation. Nearly everyone I know has read and enjoyed the books, or at the very least has seen the movies (I am judging you right now if that is the case. Not acceptable. You needed to be reading the books yesterday). Clearly I'm not the only one that feels this way, although I probably feel more strongly about it than most people do.
I'm rambling, I know. I guess I want to explain myself so you don't think I'm crazy for basically imploding with anticipation at this new website: Pottermore.com. I've been involved with Harry Potter fandom for years (when there aren't enoughobsessed dedicated people around you, you search them out yourself). Part of the reason I'm dying to meet Jo someday is that she maintains this fantastic relationship with the online fan community. She understands our devotion to the series and genuinely seems to care about us and what we want (and yet she still sounds incredibly nice and down-to-earth). Her official site, jkrowling.com, became a great source of speculation in those pre-Half-Blood Prince and pre-Deathly Hallows days. She provided background information on beloved characters, gave us hints about what might happen, and made both hilarious and insightful comments on the occasional madness that is Harry Potter fandom. There was a mysterious locked door on her site (now locked again for the first time in years!) that would open every so often, with a fun, if sometimes frustrating, series of puzzles to solve. A particularly interesting tidbit of info or news would be revealed at the end once you made it through. It was all done in a thoroughly British and Jo-like manner. Her site has been largely defunct since December of 2007, however (everything is still there, but she hasn't updated it properly in years), and while the general consensus in fandom was that she was taking a well-deserved break and working on other projects, we missed the days when new things were posted every month or so. Jo did promise to release a Harry Potter encyclopedia at some point, but there was no reason to believe she would be finishing it soon.
Then, yesterday afternoon, my favorite fansite, The Leaky Cauldron, announced that Jo had a surprise to unveil. There was some fun business with coordinates and clues on various fansites, all organized by Jo, and then a cryptic Twitter account, YouTube page, and webpage were launched. The result? Pottermore.com. I still have no idea what it's about, and neither does the rest of fandom. Leaky has a particularly good relationship with Jo, and their webmistress, Melissa, posted that she was given a sneak peek and Pottermore is apparently "breathtaking."Of course, the rest of us don't get to find out what it is for SIX ENTIRE DAYS. I am not a patient person. I know I will survive, but the suspense is maddening. Everything about Pottermore has Jo written all over it, which invariably means that my expectations are sky high. There's a lot of speculation going on at the moment. Some people think Jo might be releasing on online version of the encyclopedia (which I would be thrilled about). Others think she might be introducing an HP-themed social networking site (I guess that would be cool). Still others think she's going to create an HP online role-playing game, or MMORPG. Which ... no, just no. I mean, I get that some people dig that sort of thing, which is fine, but I would be massively disappointed if that's what she has planned, as I suspect is the case for a lot of people. There's just too much hype for it to be something with as limited appeal as an MMORPG.
So, yeah. tl;dr, I know. But this is basically defining my life for the next few days. I'm burning with excitement and need to express it somehow, so blog it is. This is the Harry Potter nerd I am. Learn to love it - or at least live with it. :)
The Harry Potter books are important to me. Looking back, I don't know if I can adequately explain how I grew to love them so dearly. J. K. Rowling is not Shakespeare, but when I was ten years old her weaknesses as a writer (of which there are very, very few, though I will grudgingly admit they do exist) didn't matter to me. I think, whatever you may say about her writing, Jo Rowling is a master storyteller. She knows innately what readers will find gripping. She takes care with her planning and her details. She does foreshadowing better than any other author I've read. Most of all, she creates characters that feel real, that you love and you worry about. I know that there are several legitimate criticisms one can make about the series, but obviously it struck a deep chord with readers worldwide, especially (though certainly not exclusively) those of my generation. Nearly everyone I know has read and enjoyed the books, or at the very least has seen the movies (I am judging you right now if that is the case. Not acceptable. You needed to be reading the books yesterday). Clearly I'm not the only one that feels this way, although I probably feel more strongly about it than most people do.
I'm rambling, I know. I guess I want to explain myself so you don't think I'm crazy for basically imploding with anticipation at this new website: Pottermore.com. I've been involved with Harry Potter fandom for years (when there aren't enough
Then, yesterday afternoon, my favorite fansite, The Leaky Cauldron, announced that Jo had a surprise to unveil. There was some fun business with coordinates and clues on various fansites, all organized by Jo, and then a cryptic Twitter account, YouTube page, and webpage were launched. The result? Pottermore.com. I still have no idea what it's about, and neither does the rest of fandom. Leaky has a particularly good relationship with Jo, and their webmistress, Melissa, posted that she was given a sneak peek and Pottermore is apparently "breathtaking."Of course, the rest of us don't get to find out what it is for SIX ENTIRE DAYS. I am not a patient person. I know I will survive, but the suspense is maddening. Everything about Pottermore has Jo written all over it, which invariably means that my expectations are sky high. There's a lot of speculation going on at the moment. Some people think Jo might be releasing on online version of the encyclopedia (which I would be thrilled about). Others think she might be introducing an HP-themed social networking site (I guess that would be cool). Still others think she's going to create an HP online role-playing game, or MMORPG. Which ... no, just no. I mean, I get that some people dig that sort of thing, which is fine, but I would be massively disappointed if that's what she has planned, as I suspect is the case for a lot of people. There's just too much hype for it to be something with as limited appeal as an MMORPG.
So, yeah. tl;dr, I know. But this is basically defining my life for the next few days. I'm burning with excitement and need to express it somehow, so blog it is. This is the Harry Potter nerd I am. Learn to love it - or at least live with it. :)
Saturday, June 11, 2011
Groceries and Sublets and James Bond, Oh My!
After two days of vague, one-line posts, I think it's high time I write an update on what's going on in my life. I am back in Charlottesville subletting an apartment not far from the university. Thankfully, it's furnished, so I didn't have much to do in the way of moving in. But yesterday was a huge headache; I arrived at the airport around 10:30 AM coming fresh off a red-eye from Los Angeles (and then the shortest flight I've ever been on - 15 minutes, maybe, from Dulles to Cville). Emily drove me to my apartment, where I waited for the key-check exchange. This happened without much ceremony or difficulty. However, things came to a crashing halt about five minutes after my key-provider left, when I figured out I couldn't open the front door. Emily, being the wonderful, kind, and obliging person that she is, let me stay at her place for a couple of hours to rest while I tried to resolve the key situation. Finally, after a helpful call to the actual apartment renter in NoVa, I discovered I could get in through the back door. Such utter relief!
I dropped my things off in the bedroom and went to Lemongrass to reunite with Pooja, which proved to be quite a successful outing, not least because I got to eat for the first time since my veggie quiche at Dulles about twelve hours earlier. Then I went to Annie's new place and watched my first ever James Bond movie, Goldfinger, with Annie, Emily, and Jacqui. I found it entertaining in the sense that it's nearly fifty years old, so it's hilarious ("Are they going to have a literal roll in the hay?!"), and young Sean Connery was attractive, so he wasn't bad to watch for a couple of hours. Then Emily me drove to my apartment for the fourth time that day, and I tried to get used to my new surroundings and go to sleep. This was more difficult than you might think; my apartment has no air conditioning (it was about 100 degrees yesterday, which means a lot more in Virginia than it does in El Centro) and there was a lightning storm outside. Once I did get to sleep, however, I slept really well.
Today I unpacked everything, was inexplicably given a bottle of water by a kind stranger who addressed me as "sweetheart," spent a few hours at work, and went grocery shopping with Pooja. Being an adult is expensive! At least I won't have to buy this much next time I go shopping; I stocked up on soup, pasta, and beans, and once I get sofrito from my mother and some rice shortly afterward, I should be set for my summer staples. Right now I'm enjoying a movie on television that I already own (Clueless) and looking forward to eating fresh fruit for breakfast. First day working with Noah tomorrow! Good night, all!
I dropped my things off in the bedroom and went to Lemongrass to reunite with Pooja, which proved to be quite a successful outing, not least because I got to eat for the first time since my veggie quiche at Dulles about twelve hours earlier. Then I went to Annie's new place and watched my first ever James Bond movie, Goldfinger, with Annie, Emily, and Jacqui. I found it entertaining in the sense that it's nearly fifty years old, so it's hilarious ("Are they going to have a literal roll in the hay?!"), and young Sean Connery was attractive, so he wasn't bad to watch for a couple of hours. Then Emily me drove to my apartment for the fourth time that day, and I tried to get used to my new surroundings and go to sleep. This was more difficult than you might think; my apartment has no air conditioning (it was about 100 degrees yesterday, which means a lot more in Virginia than it does in El Centro) and there was a lightning storm outside. Once I did get to sleep, however, I slept really well.
Today I unpacked everything, was inexplicably given a bottle of water by a kind stranger who addressed me as "sweetheart," spent a few hours at work, and went grocery shopping with Pooja. Being an adult is expensive! At least I won't have to buy this much next time I go shopping; I stocked up on soup, pasta, and beans, and once I get sofrito from my mother and some rice shortly afterward, I should be set for my summer staples. Right now I'm enjoying a movie on television that I already own (Clueless) and looking forward to eating fresh fruit for breakfast. First day working with Noah tomorrow! Good night, all!
Monday, June 6, 2011
My Expert Analysis of the Republican Presidential Field
Short version: This is the weakest field in recent political memory. The primaries will be hilarious, eventually some nutjob will be chosen, and President Obama will trounce them in the general. End of story.
Long version: I'm not going to lie. I can't wait to see the Republican Party shoot itself in the foot. There are only a few candidates who I can semi-seriously, and even they have done a great job of destroying any credibility they might have had. Prime example: Jon Huntsman from Utah, who I actually respected as a moderate and as someone willing to cross party lines, is now trying to distance himself from the president, downplay his Mormonism, and present himself as a tried-and-true conservative. Whatever, dude. I know you think you can't win a Republican primary if you, you know, appear sane, but if you tried staying true to yourself and your principles, you might be surprised. Or not. I wouldn't be shocked if you won in 2016, but it certainly won't be with my vote (although you're a Republican, so I wouldn't vote for you in any case).
I know a lot of people view Mitt Romney as a serious threat. I think he's a lightweight. He's the most opportunistic, shallow politician I've ever encountered. He's changed his position on abortion more times than I can count. When he ran for governor of Massachusetts, he was pro-choice. When he was running for president in 2008, he was pro-life. Who knows what he really is? Oh, Mittens. I look forward to hearing you tell us exactly how you're going to run this country into the ground. If you do win the primary (which could happen, although I still think the Republican electorate is going to choose someone utterly ridiculous - please let it be Palin. I've been so good this year, Santa), Obama will beat you. He may not be the perfect liberal, but at least he has some political convictions. Alec Baldwin recently described dear Mittens as a Ken doll, which is perfect. That's exactly what he is.
As for the rest of the candidates:
Tim Pawlenty - Your standard Republican governor (white, male, milquetoast, thinks he's interesting when he's clearly not). He wishes we was a serious candidate. Frankly, I'm surprised anyone can listen to him without falling asleep.
Rick Santorum - Has the crazy, but not the name recognition.
Newt Gingrich - I heard Peggy Noonan on "Meet the Press" the other day. She seemed to be under the impression that because my generation was not old enough to remember the Newt of the 90s, he would be a fresh, exciting face to us. Wow. Has she even spoken to someone under the age of 30 recently? How about no?
Gary Johnson - He was funny, if a little full of himself, on "Wait Wait, Don't Tell Me" a few weeks ago. He supports gay marriage and legalized marijuana, though, so he's not going anywhere.
Michele Bachmann - Has no chance whatsoever in the general. She might be interesting in the primary. And by interesting, I mean hysterical.
Ron Paul - HAHAHAHAHA
Herman Cain - BWAHAHAHA
Sarah Palin - Please, oh please! I would have to hear her annoying voice more often, which would stink, but if she ran, it would mean more Tina Fey (UVa grad!) parodies. Always a plus. Not to mention she's a gaffe machine and an airhead. Did you guys know that Paul Revere rode around on his horse ringing bells to warn the British to stay away from our gun rights? Yeah, me neither.
So yeah, this is going to be a great election cycle. At least I know there will still be a Democratic administration in power when I'm looking for a job after public policy school.
Long version: I'm not going to lie. I can't wait to see the Republican Party shoot itself in the foot. There are only a few candidates who I can semi-seriously, and even they have done a great job of destroying any credibility they might have had. Prime example: Jon Huntsman from Utah, who I actually respected as a moderate and as someone willing to cross party lines, is now trying to distance himself from the president, downplay his Mormonism, and present himself as a tried-and-true conservative. Whatever, dude. I know you think you can't win a Republican primary if you, you know, appear sane, but if you tried staying true to yourself and your principles, you might be surprised. Or not. I wouldn't be shocked if you won in 2016, but it certainly won't be with my vote (although you're a Republican, so I wouldn't vote for you in any case).
I know a lot of people view Mitt Romney as a serious threat. I think he's a lightweight. He's the most opportunistic, shallow politician I've ever encountered. He's changed his position on abortion more times than I can count. When he ran for governor of Massachusetts, he was pro-choice. When he was running for president in 2008, he was pro-life. Who knows what he really is? Oh, Mittens. I look forward to hearing you tell us exactly how you're going to run this country into the ground. If you do win the primary (which could happen, although I still think the Republican electorate is going to choose someone utterly ridiculous - please let it be Palin. I've been so good this year, Santa), Obama will beat you. He may not be the perfect liberal, but at least he has some political convictions. Alec Baldwin recently described dear Mittens as a Ken doll, which is perfect. That's exactly what he is.
As for the rest of the candidates:
Tim Pawlenty - Your standard Republican governor (white, male, milquetoast, thinks he's interesting when he's clearly not). He wishes we was a serious candidate. Frankly, I'm surprised anyone can listen to him without falling asleep.
Rick Santorum - Has the crazy, but not the name recognition.
Newt Gingrich - I heard Peggy Noonan on "Meet the Press" the other day. She seemed to be under the impression that because my generation was not old enough to remember the Newt of the 90s, he would be a fresh, exciting face to us. Wow. Has she even spoken to someone under the age of 30 recently? How about no?
Gary Johnson - He was funny, if a little full of himself, on "Wait Wait, Don't Tell Me" a few weeks ago. He supports gay marriage and legalized marijuana, though, so he's not going anywhere.
Michele Bachmann - Has no chance whatsoever in the general. She might be interesting in the primary. And by interesting, I mean hysterical.
Ron Paul - HAHAHAHAHA
Herman Cain - BWAHAHAHA
Sarah Palin - Please, oh please! I would have to hear her annoying voice more often, which would stink, but if she ran, it would mean more Tina Fey (UVa grad!) parodies. Always a plus. Not to mention she's a gaffe machine and an airhead. Did you guys know that Paul Revere rode around on his horse ringing bells to warn the British to stay away from our gun rights? Yeah, me neither.
So yeah, this is going to be a great election cycle. At least I know there will still be a Democratic administration in power when I'm looking for a job after public policy school.
Saturday, June 4, 2011
Reflections on Atonement
Thanks to about half an hour spent in the dentist's waiting room today, I finally finished Atonement. My thoughts are spoilery, so I'm placing them behind a cut.
Thursday, June 2, 2011
Zut Alors! A Post!
Today's post comes to you in four parts.
Part I. Life at Home
I am currently leading a very lazy existence at my parents' house before I go back to Charlottesville next week. Both of my brothers are still in school (although that will change after tomorrow) and my dad is usually at work in Yuma during the week, so most days I run errands with my mom or lie around my old room not doing much of anything. On the bright side, my Sims 2 legacy is progressing well, and the Mac versions of the expansion packs were a good 70% off, so I just went ahead and completed my collection. I'm also thisclose to finishing Atonement, and I'm quite excited to see how it ends. On the not-so-bright side, I've been massively unproductive. I can't even motivate myself to take my Netflix DVDs to the mailbox across the street. Yeah, it's pretty pathetic. Anyway, I think I've had a relatively good visit. Most of my friends are still in school or not around, but I've seen plenty of Jackie (we had an awesome sleepover on Monday night), and I had lunch with Pastor Suzi twice. Rest assured that all this lethargy has not thrown off my (admittedly rather lax) exercise schedule; I've been biking with my dad and walking the dog fairly regularly.
Things are starting to come to a close. I'm starting to think about which clothes I want to leave here and which ones are going back to Virginia with me, and it's finally time for Richie's graduation. I am looking forward to having my own place (in the sense that I'm responsibly subletting it) and earning some money this summer, but I'll definitely miss my family. My mom is pretty sure she's going to come to UVa for Family Weekend, though!
Part II. Winter's Bone
Ever since I turned 17 and felt that I could in good conscience watch R-rated movies (yes, I'm weird like that; I haven't had a drink in my life and won't until I turn 21, for example), I've made it a point to see as many of the Best Picture nominees that I can. This past year I've done well, at least for me; when I watched the Oscars in March, I'd seen half of the films (Toy Story 3, The Social Network, The King's Speech, Black Swan, and Inception), and I've since seen two more (True Grit and Winter's Bone). Out of those, I loved Toy Story 3 and Inception, enjoyed The Social Network (mainly for the glorious Sorkinese), The King's Speech, and True Grit, and respected Black Swan as a well-made psychological thriller, even if I didn't exactly like it. However, I really have no idea what to make of Winter's Bone.
The one unequivocally good thing I can say about it is that Jennifer Lawrence is an amazing actress, and Winter's Bone convinced me that she will make an excellent Katniss. Ree basically is Katniss, although for some reason I found Ree slightly more likable than Katniss, who was never my favorite character in The Hunger Games (PEETA <3 <3 <3). Maybe that's because everyone except for Ree's brother and sister is kind of a jerk. I'll admit it - Winter's Bone is just not my cup of tea. It was gritty, dirty, and distinctly unpleasant. The pacing is uneven and the plot is hard to follow. It's an uncomfortable movie to watch. Ree's life is very hard, which the film makes abundantly clear. None of her relatives (except her uncle, Teardrop, in his own gruff way) seem to care about her. Her family is poor, and she has to be the primary caregiver at age 17 because her mother is basically catatonic. They're barely getting by, to the point where Ree has to resort to killing squirrels in the woods for dinner (the scene where she skins one did not do any favors for my vegetarian digestive system). It's all very fine and well, but nothing in this movie really appealed to me. I wanted to like it, I really did. I think my problem is that I'm all about the "light, bright, and sparkling" (I will love you forever if you can tell me who said that and in what context), and even the dramas that I like have to be either relatable or about something that holds my interest. The grim realities of life and the meth trade in the Ozarks just isn't it.
Part III. Tornado
There was a tornado today in Springfield, Massachusetts, just across the river from my former hometown of Agawam. Of course I've seen the news coverage of the tornadoes in Tuscaloosa and Joplin, but it's not until it happened in my own backyard (er, onetime backyard) that the reality really hit me. It feels very surreal, even though it doesn't sound like it was nearly as serious as the ones in Alabama and Missouri. This really is a terrible year for natural disasters. Please keep the people of Springfield and the surrounding areas in your thoughts and prayers.
Part IV. Before
P. S. John Green, imitation is the sincerest form of flattery.
Thursday, May 19, 2011
Parks and Recreation and El Centro, California
Exams are over, the semester is finished, and I am home for a few weeks before going back to Virginia to work during the summer. Holy run-on sentence, Batman! Anyway, it's nice not to have to worry about school for a few months. I have been spending my days either lounging around playing The Sims 2 or running errands and hanging out with Jackie. Not a bad start to the break, if I do say so myself. My reading is getting off to a good start, too; I read the entirety of Will Grayson, Will Grayson on the plane from Dulles to Phoenix, and I'm hoping to finish another novel (maybe Atonement) before June.
I would also like to watch the television shows I keep hearing about. I've seen the first six episodes of Buffy the Vampire Slayer and the pilot of Firefly, but as they're both on Netflix Instant Watch and many of my friends swear by Joss Whedon, I feel obligated to watch a bit more of each (especially since Firefly only lasted one season). Sara loves Mad Men and has shown me the first two episodes, so it is my roommately duty to devour the rest when Netflix starts streaming them later in the summer. My parents bought me the complete Sports Night collection for Christmas and I haven't even watched one episode, but it's an Aaron Sorkin creation, so I really don't have any excuse not to like it (Netflix assures me I will). The animation and superhero geeks in me can't wait to start Batman: The Animated Series, and of course there are the last four seasons of Gilmore Girls and practically all of Friends to finish. TV-wise, this summer is going to be exciting!
In the meantime, the shows I currently follow are all coming to the end of their seasons. Michael Scott has left The Office and the Worlds team is getting into gear on my guilty pleasure show, Make It or Break It. And then there's Parks and Recreation.
I think I've figured out why I like Parks and Recreation so much. I was drawn to it in the first place because, for all her bluster, Leslie Knope cares deeply about government and its ability to help people. Parks and Rec is caricatured and hyperbolic, sure, but it's a love letter to public service in the same way The West Wing (my favorite television show of all time, period) is. It warms my government-major heart to the point where I identify with Leslie in a lot of ways. So when (SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS) she and Ben Wyatt finally kissed in last week's episode, I had a sort-of epiphany about relationships. Ben is a bit Hollywood Homely, but he's exactly my type; he has a good heart, he's smart, he's passionate about the things (and people) he loves, and he's a huge nerd. When I saw Leslie falling for him, or really him falling for Leslie, I suddenly had this need for them to get together, and I think a large part of that is because I see Leslie in myself. Granted, Leslie has been in plenty of relationships before, whereas I've been in absolutely zero, but to see Ben kiss her gave me hope (END SPOILERS). Sometimes I feel like I'll never find a guy who will love me for me. I'm still waiting for my first kiss at age 20, and it's more than a little frustrating. But when someone who reminds me of me as much as Leslie Knope can find nerdy, political love with a guy who's crazy about her, I think that maybe there is someone out there for me. Perhaps it's silly, but I'm seriously invested in the Ben/Leslie relationship and I can't wait to see where tomorrow night's episode takes them. And really, what is television if not escapist?
With that, and the fact that my body clock still thinks it's two in the morning, I shall leave this here.
I would also like to watch the television shows I keep hearing about. I've seen the first six episodes of Buffy the Vampire Slayer and the pilot of Firefly, but as they're both on Netflix Instant Watch and many of my friends swear by Joss Whedon, I feel obligated to watch a bit more of each (especially since Firefly only lasted one season). Sara loves Mad Men and has shown me the first two episodes, so it is my roommately duty to devour the rest when Netflix starts streaming them later in the summer. My parents bought me the complete Sports Night collection for Christmas and I haven't even watched one episode, but it's an Aaron Sorkin creation, so I really don't have any excuse not to like it (Netflix assures me I will). The animation and superhero geeks in me can't wait to start Batman: The Animated Series, and of course there are the last four seasons of Gilmore Girls and practically all of Friends to finish. TV-wise, this summer is going to be exciting!
In the meantime, the shows I currently follow are all coming to the end of their seasons. Michael Scott has left The Office and the Worlds team is getting into gear on my guilty pleasure show, Make It or Break It. And then there's Parks and Recreation.
I think I've figured out why I like Parks and Recreation so much. I was drawn to it in the first place because, for all her bluster, Leslie Knope cares deeply about government and its ability to help people. Parks and Rec is caricatured and hyperbolic, sure, but it's a love letter to public service in the same way The West Wing (my favorite television show of all time, period) is. It warms my government-major heart to the point where I identify with Leslie in a lot of ways. So when (SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS) she and Ben Wyatt finally kissed in last week's episode, I had a sort-of epiphany about relationships. Ben is a bit Hollywood Homely, but he's exactly my type; he has a good heart, he's smart, he's passionate about the things (and people) he loves, and he's a huge nerd. When I saw Leslie falling for him, or really him falling for Leslie, I suddenly had this need for them to get together, and I think a large part of that is because I see Leslie in myself. Granted, Leslie has been in plenty of relationships before, whereas I've been in absolutely zero, but to see Ben kiss her gave me hope (END SPOILERS). Sometimes I feel like I'll never find a guy who will love me for me. I'm still waiting for my first kiss at age 20, and it's more than a little frustrating. But when someone who reminds me of me as much as Leslie Knope can find nerdy, political love with a guy who's crazy about her, I think that maybe there is someone out there for me. Perhaps it's silly, but I'm seriously invested in the Ben/Leslie relationship and I can't wait to see where tomorrow night's episode takes them. And really, what is television if not escapist?
With that, and the fact that my body clock still thinks it's two in the morning, I shall leave this here.
Wednesday, April 20, 2011
Being Puerto Rican ... and White
The following is a rather rambly, stream of consciousness-style reflection on being multiracial.
As you may or may not know, I am multiracial. My mother is Puerto Rican and my father is what I like to call European mutt (mostly English). You might reasonably expect me to look like this:
As you may or may not know, I am multiracial. My mother is Puerto Rican and my father is what I like to call European mutt (mostly English). You might reasonably expect me to look like this:
This is actress Aubrey Plaza, who plays April Ludgate on one of my new favorite shows, Parks and Recreation. She is, like me, half Puerto-Rican, half white. To be fair, I will probably never, ever look like Aubrey Plaza (i.e. hot enough to be on a TV show), but according to Mendelian genetics, I probably shouldn't look like this, either:
I am who I am, and I've mostly accepted that by this point. But I'm taking African-American Political Thought this semester, and the relationship between race and politics has always been a fascinating one to me. Identity is a huge, huge theme in both fields.
I identify as multiracial primarily, then Puerto Rican, then white. Because of my looks, society views me primarily as white. I know my physical appearance has allowed me to benefit from white privilege. In a lot of ways, that's probably a good thing. I don't think I've ever been called a racist slur, and I certainly haven't been discriminated against (at least because of my race. My gender and my socio-economic status, maybe). Looking white in the United States gives me advantages, and I will be the first to admit it.
Sometimes, though, I wish people would believe me when I say I'm Puerto Rican. I realize that sounds blase, and perhaps a bit whiny. I'm not going to argue that appearing white is OMG so hard, because it's not. All my life, I will get benefits from looking white that I would not have if I looked more Hispanic. Our society is nowhere close to post-racial, and whites are still systematically and institutionally favored over racial minorities. It's wrong and it's bad for our country, but it's true.
However, there are times when I don't feel authentically Hispanic. I don't have dark hair or skin, my Spanish is good but not great, and I didn't grow up surrounded by extended family. I know I'm playing into stereotypes here - that's not right either. But I know I got into UVa partially because I clicked the box next to Hispanic, and walking into the PMP training session last week made me feel a little like a cheater. Yes, I am Puerto Rican. But can I be an authentic representative of my race? How can I claim to know what going to UVa as a Latina is like when I look so white? The truth is that I don't know the answer to either of those questions.
I know I can't change anything about my skin tone or my hair color. For whatever reason, I look white. I can take pride in my heritage without fitting the stereotypical portrait. I also realize that I am privileged in that I am even able to ask these questions and make these assertions. And yet ... and yet ...
Sometimes, I feel like there's something missing.
Tuesday, April 5, 2011
Schadenfreude and the Hunger Games Movie
Lionsgate announced today that Josh Hutcherson and Liam Hemsworth will play Peeta and Gale, respectively, in the film adaptation of The Hunger Games. Jennifer Lawrence, as revealed a few weeks ago, will play Katniss.
Sunday, April 3, 2011
In Which Aida Proves, Beyond the Shadow of a Doubt, That She is a Huge Nerd
I have always had a tendency to become oddly obsessed with various works of fiction. I have been a huge (understatement of the century) Harry Potter fan since November of 2000, when I was ten years old, and anyone who has seen my dorm room or, you know, spoken to me for five minutes can attest that my love for Harry has not waned in the slightest. At age twelve I fell for Star Wars when I saw the Original Trilogy for the first time, and I went through I phase where I wanted to watch the movies at every sleepover Meagan and I had (and I believe I must have driven her crazy - sorry, Meg!) and I checked out every Star Wars novel the public library had. I have read every Princess Diaries book, own the entire Anne of Green Gables series and both movies (I refuse to acknowledge the existence of Anne of Green Gables: The Continuing Story), and collected all seven seasons of The West Wing over the various birthdays and Christmases during high school. Much like Marianne Dashwood, I can never love in halves.
This remains true even in my college years. Only last spring I discovered Avatar: the Last Airbender, which I have now watched from beginning to end nearly twice over and insist that all my similarly nerdy friends at least try a few episodes. I love all Pixar movies (well, maybe not Cars, but everything else I'm pretty darned attached to), and am incredibly excited for Brave, which will combine many of my favorite things (fairy tales, British mythology, strong female protagonists, and adventure stories set in the olden days) into what I am sure will be an excellent film (and which is, unfortunately, more than a year away from release). I fell rather inexplicably hard for Tangled, partially, I suspect, because I expected very little from it, based on those godawful trailers I was subjected to multiple times during the summer. I have been variously obsessed with The Office, Kim Possible, Full House, Make It or Break It (shut up), Jon & Kate Plus 8 (SHUT UP), the Vlogbrothers videos (DFTBA!), Gilmore Girls, and the 2008 presidential election (incidentally, I have been an Obama supporter since 2006, and I'm still pretty happy with him. And no, he's not going to get beaten next year because the Republican field is a joke. Called it).
I only say this now because I watched the entirety of the first season of Veronica Mars (22 one-hour episodes) between Sunday and Thursday and can now list all of the 100 most popular girls' names in the last 100 years (Sporcle has ruined my life). There is clearly something wrong with me, and yet I feel so happy. Go figure.
This remains true even in my college years. Only last spring I discovered Avatar: the Last Airbender, which I have now watched from beginning to end nearly twice over and insist that all my similarly nerdy friends at least try a few episodes. I love all Pixar movies (well, maybe not Cars, but everything else I'm pretty darned attached to), and am incredibly excited for Brave, which will combine many of my favorite things (fairy tales, British mythology, strong female protagonists, and adventure stories set in the olden days) into what I am sure will be an excellent film (and which is, unfortunately, more than a year away from release). I fell rather inexplicably hard for Tangled, partially, I suspect, because I expected very little from it, based on those godawful trailers I was subjected to multiple times during the summer. I have been variously obsessed with The Office, Kim Possible, Full House, Make It or Break It (shut up), Jon & Kate Plus 8 (SHUT UP), the Vlogbrothers videos (DFTBA!), Gilmore Girls, and the 2008 presidential election (incidentally, I have been an Obama supporter since 2006, and I'm still pretty happy with him. And no, he's not going to get beaten next year because the Republican field is a joke. Called it).
I only say this now because I watched the entirety of the first season of Veronica Mars (22 one-hour episodes) between Sunday and Thursday and can now list all of the 100 most popular girls' names in the last 100 years (Sporcle has ruined my life). There is clearly something wrong with me, and yet I feel so happy. Go figure.
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