A Better Movie
Monday, May 24, 2004 -|- 09:22 p.m.

I think Penny Arcade has the perfect solution on how to make Troy a better movie.

Blarg
Friday, May 21, 2004 -|- 03:17 a.m.

I found out I suck at freehand machine embroidery. It's hard to control! Certainly not getting the smooth lines I want. So it's back to hand embroidery. *sigh* Let the recruitment drive start now. Help! I wonder how much someone would charge to do it for me? And if they could do it in time?

Heero's Movie Review
Tuesday, May 18, 2004 -|- 05:00 p.m.

You've seen my reviews of Van Helsing and Troy. Now I bring you the reviews by Heero. He captures the spirt of them so well. Enjoy.

Van Helsing: OK, this movie is about 1 thing and one thing only: Van Helsing kicking butt. Nothing else REALLY matters in the movie. Romance? Takes away from valuable butt-kicking time. Character Exposition? Van Helsing kicks butts, what else do you need to know? Plot? Van Helsing needs to kick this guy's butt so he can get there and kick THAT guy's butt. Dialogue? "I gotta kick that guy's butt", "Please don't", "Sorry, that's what I do." The movie starts with a rapid fire butt kicking sequence through the Cathedral of Notre Dame and ends with a butt kicking sequence through Dracula's castle (in Transylvania). Any time Van Helsing is on screen, there are butts to kick. In the Vatican? Oh, that Cardinal wants to give you a verbal butt-kicking Van Helsing. In the Village? All these villagers want to kick your butt, but we know they can't so go butt-kick these vampire wives Van Helsing. Going from one city to the next? Ever see someone fight from a wagon? And what about other characters? Oh, would you like a side of butt-kicking with your butt-kicking? The friar sidekick even takes out a whole building full of vampires and even the village undertaker gets his butt-kicked. From start to finish it is one butt-kicking good time. If you like action, no I mean a LOT of action, no I mean non-stop, edge of your seat, eyes bleeding because you're trying to tell who's butt is being kicked now, sanity questioning action that lacks any reason more than "Van Helsing kicks butt, what else do you need", then this is a great movie, possibly the best ever. If you need to understand MINOR details like "why is that person doing.... well why is anyone in this film doing ANYTHING?" then it's best left to watching with a group of friends so you can all try to figure it out together.

Troy: To start at the top, I gotta say, I'm a BIG fan of the 'Trojan War' as told by Homer, if you are as well this is NOT the movie for you. The good of this movie: Odysseus is well represented by Sean Bean, Hector is fairly well rendered from start to finish, and Patrocolus' role in the war is perfectly captured. The bad? EVERYTHING ELSE. Troy is a movie about Achilles, period. Sure there are other people, and they affect the plot, but this isn't a movie about the Trojan War, this is a movie about Achilles. Sure, not the Achilles you may remember from the myth, no this is Brad Pitt-naked, blond locked Achilles. A man who is a fighter and a lover and doesn't suffer fools easily. Imagine "Gladiator" but with Maximus replaced by Achilles, there you have Troy. I know, you're thinking "wasn't Troy a myth involving gods and goddesses and legions of heroes?" No, no. You're thinking of "The Iliad" (upon which this movie is supposedly based). No, _Troy_ is about some petty kings (who DIE), a complete PUTZ of a prince (who DOESN'T die), and Brad Pitt with no shirt. Helen? she's in there somewhere. Enchanted by Aphrodite? Aphrowhosee? No see, the people of Troy laugh at the garbage you call "gods". Some of them claim to be followers of Apollo, they are subsequently laughed at and killed. Zeus? Hera? Athena? Poseidon? Bah, Achilles doesn't care about any of them, and neither should you. In the end, the person who rewrote the story for this script should be shot in the heel like Achilles. 'Troy' takes a CLASSIC epic story (the Iliad) and desecrates it for the sake of showing off Brad Pitt. If you have ANY appreciation for the story of the Trojan War, do NOT see this movie. If you're a superficial simpleton that just wants to see naked Brad Pitt, or "cutesy" (but still a TOTAL putz) Orlando Bloom, or whoever the guy that plays Hector is, then knock yourself out. Another reviewer (who was writing FAVORABLY) said it best, "Troy" is 'The Iliad' as WWE:Smackdown. "The Iliad" is to "Troy" as "Romeo & Juilet" is to "Armageddon", what? You say the two are nothing alike? exactly.

I Came, I Saw, I Wasn't Impressed
Tuesday, May 18, 2004 -|- 02:22 p.m.

Despite WMC not coming to visit me this weekend, my house was still full of people. Somewhere in there we went to see Troy. This is my review. To me, there was good and bad in this movie. More on that later.

In this movie, I liked Ajax, Hector, his wife Andromache and tiny son, and of course Odysseus. That was it. Eric Bana made a wonderful Hector. One look at him and I believed he was an ancient Greek Prince. Peter O'Toole also made a very believable Priam. The problem in my opinion in casting very well known actors in movies, is that it's distracting to immersing you in that world. As much as I love Sean Bean's acting, every once in a while, I'd hear his voice and think, Boromir? But he really did do a wonderful Odysseus. The only problem is he didn't have a bigger part in the movie. He's a very good actor and I enjoy watching him. Plus he had longer hair in the movie, so it was all good. The first time I ever saw him in a movie was in Patriot Games with very short hair. He did such a good job as a villain that every time I see him in short hair, I get a little freaked out. Paris was a wanker, as he should be. Helen... Helen was supposed to be the most beautiful woman of the age. I didn't see it. Especially in the beginning of the movie. She looked a little better in Troy, but still not that good.

Now for my detailed review of what they got right, and what they got wrong according to the original mythology. When the credits say "inspired by the Illiad" that should tell you something right there.

~*SPOILER WARNING*~

They took the gods out of this movie. Oh sure, there's a temple of Apollo, but Achilles and his men desecrate it and nothing happens. Ok, these days and hollywood especially is rather atheist, so ok. But that means a lot of things you have to explain some other way, because the gods were highly involved in the war. Heck, the whole reason the war started was because of the gods in the Judgment of Paris. Aphrodite promised him the fairest woman in the world. And that was Helen. But since the gods are taken out of this movie, we make Helen a lonely, unhappy woman that falls in love with the dink, Paris, and sails away with him instead of being abducted. And of course we can't make her husband, Menelaus, a good guy if we want people to buy this. So, while his wife Helen, the most beautiful woman in the world, is upstairs, he's got another girl on his knee. WTF? There's no mention of the pact that was made between all of Helen's suitors to champion the cause of Helen's husband if any wrong was done to him through his marriage. But they assemble anyway. Achilles' mother makes the worst argument in the world for him not to go in this movie. She might as well just tell him to go. But yet, Odysseus is still the one to get him to go. Agamemnon is a power hungry jerk, and he and Achilles fight over a girl taken in the war, tho her identity is a bit altered. Menelaus wants his wife back so he can kill her? What? But he and Paris do fight. Paris is a coward and Hector kills Menelaus. Menelaus is supposed to live and gladly take Helen back home in the end, but so much for that. Ajax dies early in the war in battle instead of killing himself in shame. The part with Patroclus happens just as it should, as does the fight between Achilles and Hector. Achilles drags him a much shorter time, but it's a nine year war fought in one movie, so ok. The part with Priam coming to Achilles and after also goes correctly. Both Achilles and Paris are still strangely alive when Odysseus' wooden horse is built. And I'll give them credit, it actually looks like something that was made out of boat parts, instead of something that was implausible to make in a short time. Cassandra is not even in this movie, sadly enough, so it's Paris who says they should burn it. But who would listen to that dink, so it's brought into the city. Agamemnon is killed by a woman during the sacking instead of being killed by his wife when he returns home. And now is when they have Paris shoot Achilles who has never received so much as a scratch in this movie before, just cause he's that good. He's shot in the heel first, but as we're disreguarding anything to do with the gods, he shoots him in the chest several times too. Achilles pulls those out and dies with only the arrow left in his heel, but still! That was supposed to be his only vulnerable point. I did always wonder how that killed him unless he was a bleeder or the arrow was poisoned. Which would be plausible, as Paris dies from a poisoned arrow. Oh wait, he lives in this friggin movie! As does Hector's little son who escapes with his mother. Aeneas is seen with them with his aged father. Odysseus is left to narrate the end. You might think that they would then do the Odyssey, but I bet you they won't. They took the gods out of the Trojan War, the Odyssey has so many fantastical things in it, I bet they won't even touch it. Pity in a way, but then, I'd rather have someone else make it with the same cast. They got some things right in this movie, but overall, they peed on the spirit of it. Where are directors like Peter Jackson who respects his source material and the fans? I've never seen them do a movie of this story right yet. If you've never read the Illiad and are unfamiliar with the story, you may enjoy it, but if you're a fan, I'm sorry. It blows. And I am not a Brad Pitt fan, that casting did nothing for me. Tho I suppose he was all right in the role. Overall, this movie was all about the fighting, cause people like action, as we learned from Van Helsing. So what if some characterizations got butchered and slandered, no one will notice with all the pretty fighting. >.< If you haven't seen it and want to, go ahead, but don't go with your hopes up.

Embroidery Hope
Saturday, May 15, 2004 -|- 03:08 a.m.

My costume for A-kon is coming along very slowly. With just three weeks left, looking at all that embroidery work was making me panic and lose hope of finishing in time. After talking to a coworker, I read the manual for my sewing machine. And low and behold, I can drop the feed dogs in my machine and do sort of a freeform embroidery. Yes! Score! I even played with some of the decorative stitches and found some that I think will work. Of course will have to test it with all those curves and the metallic thread, but I think this will save me oodles of time vs. doing it by hand. I'll still have to fill in the tiny leaves in the in between lines by hand, but that's much less work than I was looking at. Whee! I may get this thing done yet.

Van Helsing
Sunday, May 9, 2004 -|- 01:19 a.m.

So a group of us got together today to go see Van Helsing. Let me tell you we had a blast. Now don't get me wrong. Technically it's an awful movie, but it's a brilliantly awful movie. See it in a group that's not afraid to comment, and near opening night for the best crowd. Because this movie is best with heckling. The best character in the whole movie is Carl, the Friar sidekick, played by the same actor as Faramir from Lord of the Rings. Yeah, I'd do him. And apparently I'm not the only one. Friggin kicked ass. One of the most fun parts of the movie was actually a perfectly placed comment from the guy behind us in the theatre. We all about busted a gut laughing. And there's also a shot near the end of the movie between the main guy and girl that looks so so wrong, but is so worth it. The thing one will notice about this movie is that it doesn't slow down or stop anywhere in it. I think the motto for this movie was, "Too much talky, more fighty." It's all one big action scene. You know how on DBZ, the time slows down for one really big fight that lasts forever? Well in Val Helsing, time speeds up, so that's it's lots of fights with little or no noticeable break between, but yet time magically passes anyway. So fast you don't notice it. So in the end, I won't say it's a really good movie, but it's a fun movie. I haven't laughed that hard or had that much animated discussion after in a while.

Fitting Woes
Thursday, May 6, 2004 -|- 12:58 a.m.

I'm working on drafting my patterns for my Shieldmaiden costume for A-kon. Yes, procratinationg me always leaves it to the last. Anyway, while working with the vest I was reminded of my fitting... complications. That, and Eowyn is a stick and I'm full of curves. See, I'm trying to make the vest with just darts for fitting, but it keeps gaping funny in the armhole. Arrgh. Princess seams really work the best for me. I have a narrow back and shoulders, so angling from my bust to my shoulders can create... complications. Let me put this in perspective. Pattern sizes are different than store bought clothes, so don't think you know my size when you read this unless you sew. According to the measurements on the back of patterns, my bust measurement falls in a size 16. But this is not evenly distributed. Across my back, I'm a size 11. Across the front, I'm an 18. And up to my shoulders is a 12. It's like my entire ribcage is shoved forward or something. And my breasts are average size. I'm only sporing a B-cup, so I don't know why I should be having so many difficulties. But yet it's true. I'm about ready to trash my working front of the vest and try a princess seamed pattern, accuracy be damned. It has to fit on *my* body. Bah. Working on the underdress for now to alleviate the frustration. I need to figure out how much fabric I need so I can order the silk soon anyway. Won't do me a lot of good if I wait too long and am stuck waiting for it to be delivered at the last moment when there's no time left to sew it up.

Work Frustration
Friday, April 30, 2004 -|- 10:16 p.m.

Today, I was sure was going to be a crap day. It started out as a "bottom out" day. One of those days where I just drag myself around with no energy at all. But I took my vitamins and got something to eat, and I perked up. So, energy-wise, it turned out to be a good day. Plus, I got to help someone pick out the perfect pattern and explain how to alter it to someone also going to A-kon. They were making a Dark Chii costume. I'll be looking for them :p

But, a good jolt of energy also came from my indignation and frustration today. This afternoon, I wrapped up re-doing the value bins. I pulled out and scanned all of the quilting fat quarters. Some had gone to clearance, some were no longer in the bins, and some had just shifted around. So I got them all seperated and in their proper places and went on about my day. Later, I go by and one of the new girls is completely rearanging them. I about took her head off. Refrained from screaming and told her that I had just done all the value bins and she was putting them in the wrong places. I told her to fix them and freaking look at the numbers instead of randomly dividing them by some arbitrary color grouping that she made up. I go back after she left and they weren't fixed. So once again I had to redo them. *@#%$*@#%$%@!!!!* Thank you so much for making me do my job twice! Arrrgh!

Later, I was calling another of our branch stores to have them check on a trim for me. The girl wouldn't stay on the line long enough for me to give her all the information. She kept running off with only bits of information instead of waiting for me to tell her everything which would have made it easy to find. No wonder it took forever for her to find anything. It could have been a simple short excercise, but she drug it out into something ridiculously long. *shakes head*

And finally, I had a customer point out to me that someone had torn pages out of one of the pattern books. And I know it's not the first time, because the previous book was also missing pages. And of course it's the one we only have one copy of. I guess no one is going to buy the patterns on that page because it's missing from the catalogue! Hello? Do these people go to book stores and rip pages out of the books? Do they do this at the library? We have magazines with the same pictures in them. They can go to the website. But nooo, they have to rip them out of our only catalogue and hurt our sales. If I knew who was doing it, I'd throw them out on their behinds and tell them never to come back. Makes me so mad.

Our manager left this week to move back home, so we'll be getting a new one soon. Found out some things about her right before she left that didn't make me happy. Evidently the woman lied often. Remember that thing about lateness a while back that I was worried about? Complete bunk. But it did scare me into padding my drive time so that I've actually been better at being on time. So false or not, it worked for me.

Why You Should Never Go To Pensacola Christian College
Wednesday, April 28, 2004 -|- 01:08 a.m.

Ok, I went to a Christian University. We had a few rules, but nothing that ever caused me any inconvenience. More so because I never lived in the dorm, I'm sure. But, Pensacola Christian College is evidently the rules masters. Their dress code alone would drive me insane. What do you mean I can't wear pants? Or visit a public library or leave campus in a group smaller than 2 or 3 (girls). No more than twenty students may meet off-campus without specific permission. Why? Are they afraid they'll start a riot? No student is allowed to talk or otherwise interact with another student of the opposite sex outside of a "chaperoned" area. It does not matter if they are alone or among hundreds of students if it is not an "official" chaperoned area. Each gender must use segregated stairways, elevators and in some cases, sidewalks. Well say goodbye to any chance of hanging out with any friends of the opposite gender if you aren't in a "chaperoned" area. Man, the list just goes on and on. It sounds more like a cult than college. And I thought I was deprived because we didn't have dances @.@ All I can say is don't go to this school unless you like living in the dark ages! >.< *grumble* Give us all a bad name they will.

...Go On When I Close My Eyes
Friday, April 23, 2004 -|- 10:34 p.m.

The dreams have gotten less unpleasant, thankfully. Still weird, but they always were ;p Recently, there's been the dream where I'm a demon/monster hunter in red, with my blond, also female partner in blue. Yeah, it was basically an anime. But this morning, I yet again had friends in my dreams. And unlike another friend I've talked to, when people I know show up in my dreams, they are who they are supposed to be. So I was in a musical about a musical (or opera, whatever). We'd just been cast and were doing a run through to familiarize ourselves with our parts. As for the cameos, my friend Lorsh was the bartender of where all our characters often were. Snake Boy was another main character. I was a somewhat background character, but I did have one kick-ass song. I sang that I didn't get the spotlight that much, but when I did, I gave it my all. I didn't realize I got a song. It was cool. :)

These Dreams
Wednesday, April 21, 2004 -|- 03:14 a.m.

Love that song, BTW. I need to track down a copy one day. But that's not the point of my thoughts today. My dreams have just been plain odd as of late. Normally I enjoy my dreams, but lately I'm half glad to wake up. They aren't nightmares, just odd. Actually the somewhat unpleasant ones have mostly stopped. My latest dream was fairly pleasant, but in a bit of an uncomfortable way. Even odder when your friends have parts in them. I don't know why I brought it up. Probably better to just let it fade from my mind.

A Place Where Mormons Prowl The Streets
Wednesday, April 14, 2004 -|- 02:31 a.m.

Ah, homeownership. The trials that come with it. Today, I took care of part of one that has been needing doing, mowing the lawn. Well the front lawn anyway. I had to go to work later in the day, so only so much time was available. Tomorrow is inventory at work O.o But I digress. Who should come pounding the pavement while I am trying to get some work done on a limited time schedule, but two young men in white shirts and ties, all the way from Utah. That's right, Mormons. What did I do to deserve this little 'grace?' Why is my own front lawn not safe from these hunters searching for unwary souls? I let them say what they wanted, but pretty much went about my business and paid them little to no mind. I let them help empty my collection of grass clippings. I will say a few good things about Mormons, they are hard working and put a healthy focus on family. At least in part. But when my work was done I shooed them off. I had to get ready for work. Considering my later reflection, they're lucky I didn't get out the hose.

I know a few things about Mormonism. Enough to guarantee that I'll never consider having anything to do with it. My mother somewhat seriously dated a Mormon back in collage, so she studied up on the Book of Mormon to find out what it was they did believe. Let us just say that it goes without saying that my father is not said Mormon. The faults and revisions are many, most unknown to your average modern Mormon. First of all, it's a works based salvation. How they define the place of woman really gets me. Yes, the polygamy. Tho to be fair, that is mostly restricted to Utah, where it can be hidden, and not all Mormons accept the practice. The Reorganized Mormon Church for instance, founded by Joseph Smith's first wife, does not accept it. I have no plans to accept my 'duty' to be a baby machine, thank you. Or believe that I can only get to heaven through my husband. But where this all takes a personal turn is in a conversation with my mother. I was reminded that I had family murdered in the Mountain Meadow Massacre on September 11, 1857. That's right, 9-11. Creepy ne? There is little widespread public knowledge of this crime of civil terrorism that pales in modern U.S. history only to the 1995 Oklahoma City bombing. So, for those not up on your history, a wagon train, on its way from Arkansas to California, was set upon by Indians in Utah. Now if this was just a simple Indian attack, it would be one thing, but it was much much worse. For 5 days the emigrants held out, until a band of Mormon men arrived under a white flag and said that they could persuade the Indians to let them pass if the emigrants gave up their guns. Unhappily, the emigrants did so, but as soon as they turned them over the deceitful men shot them. The now defenseless women and children were slaughtered by the Indians and many Mormons dressed as Indians. Some 120 people were massacred. Only 17 children, under 8, survived.
Does anyone still wonder why Mormons are going to have no chance in hell of converting me?

Naruto Ninja
Sunday, April 4, 2004 -|- 03:35 a.m.

What kind of Naruto Ninja are you? by Alex_kun
Name
Where You Are From:	Wind Country - Sand Village
Which Animal You Can Summon:	Wolf
Current Shinobi Status:	Still in Ninja School (Study!)
Your costume colors consist of:	Black
and:	Blue
Created with quill18's MemeGen 3.0!

Renaissance Revelations
Monday, March 29, 2004 -|- 10:52 p.m.

So I got to go to Excalibur fantasy faire last weekend. Sadly, I realized something: I'm not really into ren faires. What I am into is the chance to wear a costume and have people ooh and ahh over my work. My vanity likes to be stroked. ^.^; Plus I like to see the other costumes. So I guess what I go to these things for makes them pretty cheap events. There was one interesting item to be seen tho. The magic scarf was a nifty little item. Almost sorry I didn't get one, but as you can see, they're easy to find online. There were a couple of other items that were a bit interesting. Some more fun to look at than consider buying, but there's a lot of just crap for sale too. Ah well, I had fun anyway. And my hobbit costume got more attention this year than last, so it was all good. :)

Gamer Girl
Wednesday, March 17, 2004 -|- 04:57 a.m.

Behold my geekyness... or sorta geekyness anyway. Yes, I have never GMed an RPG before.

Your Ultimate Roleplaying Purity Score
Category	Your Score	Average
Hacklust	68.87% Enjoys the occasional head-lopping	53.4%
Sensitive Roleplaying	70.89% Will talk after everyone important's been killed	54.2%
GM Experience	100% The power of the GM's screen compels you!	69.2%
Systems Knowledge	97.46% Played in a couple of campaigns	90.2%
Livin' La Vida Dorka	72.41% Goes nuts on the weekends	62.9%
You are 84.95% pure Average Score: 68.5%
Take The Ultimate Roleplaying Purity Test and see how you match up!

Ack, all the links show white on the white BG. O.o
Ok, I'm not too sure on some of these answers. In fact, I'm actually not sure I want to bother sharing this. It makes me look too normal. Bah. Now where was that anime purity test I took years ago?

I Got Hobbit Loot!
Friday, March 12, 2004 -|- 12:10 a.m.

It seems that everyone I've written about and mentioned their online names on here has done a websearch on themselves and found my pita. If I said anything bad, I'm sorry! *blush* I'm going to hide in the corner now.

I switched with somebody at work so I could go to the Rings on the Range meetup tonight. I'm glad I did. Had tons of fun. Got to see Oscar pictures of the hobbits, yay! And my new precious, a coin from this Year's Mardi Gras with Elijah Wood's face on it that he himself threw at the Bacchus parade! Squeeee! I love it! I want to see that boy in person someday. The food situation turned a bit crazy for me tho. I ordered a simple sandwich with a side of fruit and a bowl of cream of mushroom soup. Mmm, mushroom. Well I wait, and I wait, and I wait for my signal thing to go off telling me it's ready. The one day I pick to not really eat anything else that day... I'm not too bugged, as I'm enjoying listening to the conversations around me. The girl next to me keeps telling me to go up there and check, so I do. Still nothing. An hour later, I give up and ask somebody about it. I say "I ordered an hour ago." And the guy's like no you didn't. And I say, yes I did, and hand him the receipt with the time on it. Well, I promptly got my food, and the manager refunded my money, and offered me free dessert or anything I wanted. I got a glass of wine. Would have loved the dessert, but had quite enough food and knew I couldn't eat it. The chardonay was especially nice with the blueberries. Yum. I don't mind that they lost my ticket when I was with a fun group and they were so nice afterwards about it. I'm really glad I hung out to talk afterwards, that was even more fun. The group at the table is so large that you can't hear everybody well. Anyway, found out others go to A-kon as well, and I'm going to get to borrow a dress form! Yay! Will help make my Eowyn Shieldmaiden costume easier. I need to start on that if I'm going to have it done by Akon. All that embroidery! And all I've ever done before is crosstitch. But it'll look better than faking it with trim. I still need to make it by Silk Road and look at their silks for it. Expensive, yes, but beautiful. We will see!

Naruto and D&D
Monday, March 8, 2004 -|- 07:37 p.m.

So this Saturday, some friends and I played some D&D. The fun thing is three of us made a halfling team straight out of Naruto. Rock Lee, Neji and Tenten. Now normally I hate Tenten, but she was fairly easy to create in D&D. Easier than Temari. It was fun playing Neji's cheerleeder. The halflings ruled that game. The taller people were lame and couldn't speak for themselves. Gai-sensei team rocks! Ok, I shouldn't really pick on the others for not being able to talk well in a game. I was like that when I first started, and I'm still not a leader by any means, tho I am better. I enjoyed the game. Wish we had gotten farther, which we would have if we had been more on task. I spent the next day thinking how I could have been better and what to do next. I sit back too much sometimes ^.^; I hope that game actually continues. I thought the GM was good. I miss playing. Tho having a game without immature teen sniping would be even better.

Quiz Time
Friday, February 27, 2004 -|- 11:40 p.m.

I feel like taking more quizzes today, so here goes.


Your Element is Water. You are soft and serene at
most times but like Wind, you're scary when
you're mad. You probably have a talent for
singing and even your speaking voice is lovely.
You have an innocent type of beauty that makes
you look younger than you are and you like
close relationships with people.

What's Your Element(girls)? (PICTURES)
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Red
Your heart is red. You're either in love or you don't mind falling in love. It might hurt but it's worth it right?! You most likely welcome love and feel all good when you have it. Your heart's alive.

Your Heart is Red

What Color is Your Heart?
brought to you by Quizilla


You are the Goddess of Water. You are a very
loving, you show your emotions out in the open.
You are full of wisdom. Also dreamy... You
would rather be sleeping then awake. But are
still very happy. You are most inspiration to
the other Four Goddesses since without water
there wouldn't be life. Other Water Goddesses:
Aphrodite, Isis, Mariamne, Mari, Tiamat,
Yemaya, Ran, Kupala

Which of the Four Elemental Goddesses are you?(With Pics)
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Is it just me, or is there a water theme going on?

Well I Am A Pisces
Thursday, February 26, 2004 -|- 04:20 a.m.


Fish

?? Which Creature Of The Sea Are You??
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Heart of Crystal

What is Your Heart REALLY Made of?
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Wacky Weekend
Wednesday, February 25, 2004 -|- 01:41 a.m.

Ok, fanfiction.net seems to be down tonight, so I guess I'll actually update. This weekend turned into a last minute Ushi meeting. We were originally supposed to play D&D with Tolarin and Mikyala on Saturday, but Ushi people decided Thursday night that if we were going to have a meeting anytime soon, it would have to be this weekend. Oh well. The out of towners arrived Friday evening, which prompted us to finish putting up the blinds in the guest bedrooms. Now have blinds in the living room too, and working on hemming lace curtains for the kitchen :) I think they're cute. I didn't feel like dragging out the sewing machine, so I'm working on them by hand. Slow going, but relaxing. Just reminds me if I'm going to do all that hand embroidery on my planned Eowyn costume, I should start on it soon soon. Only about 3 months till A-kon. I must be crazy, but I am a stickler for detail.

Everyone else arrived for the actual meeting on Saturday, and Gander and Heero made mashed potatoes and prime rib. I found out I don't own enough forks for the entire crew. O.o Watching people try to eat meat with spoons was interesting... But it was good, even if some people are weenies and had to microwave their steaks because it was too pink for them. Prime rib is supposed to be pink, that's just how it comes out. I opted out of the poker game and sewed a little on my curtains and watched Tolarin, Mikayla and KolatCrab play the old D&D arcade game on the computer. I tried to find my old Phantom novel in my yet unpacked boxes, but was unsuccessful. But I did find a sewing book that my mother must have sent me and perused it for a while. Later that night, several of us played Gander's new Naruto 2 video game on his gamecube. I like that game, even if Temari isn't a playable character, grr. I was still having a devil of a time figuring it out, but I kinda started figuring out how to play Akamaru. I kicked butt with the puppy, but as he's a bit of a cheap character, somebody else stole him quickly. I don't care if he's cheap, he was the only character I could figure out how to work! So I played with Kiba (with Akamaru) instead, figuring they'd be similar. Not really, but I was starting to get the hang of him anyway. Even pulled off his special. I like that game and wanted to play more. Ended the night watching eps 2-4 of Full Metal Alchemist. I still don't think it's a good as Naruto, but everyone tells me to keep watching. The little brother was a cutie when he was still human. Too bad he's a suit of armor now.

Sunday those of us left played Mario Kart: Double Dash. I really like the cooperative play to it. I got rather good at playing a gunner, which is great considering I'm usually terrible at driving on video games. Whee! It was a lot of fun. Makes me want a gamecube, despite their less than perfect controller.

Monday, I decided to bite the bullet and actually unpack my books that have never seen the light of day. Yay! I can actually find stuff now. Now I realize just how many books my mother has given me... and it's a lot. And most of them are hardback, and I've got duplicates of several of them O.o Many of them will probably spend their lives never even cracked open. But, the point is I unpacked! I filled my two large bookcases and think I need more... Only natural considering my parents house is decorated in early library. But I found my Phantom book and am rereading it instead of finishing Pride and Prejudice. What's with me and reading several things at once? I blame fanfiction :p

Pan Fan
Friday, February 20, 2004 -|- 12:36 a.m.

Saw Peter Pan in the theatre again today, as it was the last day to catch it. I had the theatre all to myself. ^.^ Sometimes it really takes two viewings of something for it to really sink in and I can warm up to it. Don't get me wrong, I very much enjoyed my first viewing, but I also watched it with a critical eye and some things seemed a bit lacking. I reread the original book after I got home and compared. Now, after this second viewing, I could lay aside my analyzing of it and just enjoy the movie. And you know what I found? It's a very fun movie and I didn't even find Tinkerbell to be woefully miscast. Even with the comparison to the original still fresh in my head, I found no faults. It really is the most faithful adaptation I've seen yet. Oh sure, ILM's effects aren't perfect, but that doesn't matter. It's a story I love. I can't believe it just ended the way the narration says. Not after all that happened in the movie. That just doesn't ring true. There's the stirrings of adult emotions in several characters, Peter included, and I can't believe he would just forget them. But then, time does pass differently in the Neverland, and Peter is a forgetful boy. I'm unsure if that's just him, or it's a byproduct of living in Neverland. For if one remembered all the experiences one had, it would eventually make one grow up. At least a good bit.

The Music Of The Night
Thursday, February 19, 2004 -|- 01:22 a.m.

What is my deal with reflecting for so long before I make a post? Ah well. Friday the 13th was the day to see Phantom of the Opera. Second time for me, third for Heero. First time for Tolarin and Mikayla. The day started out with helping Mikayla shop for a dress, as she felt all she had were dresses that said "high school dance." I can understand, I got a new dress for the occasion myself. We found something simple and multipurpose. That basic little black dress. Then it was off to the hairdressers for me. I went to a branch of my normal haircutters, as they are cheaper. Evidently this was a mistake. I went in the day before to ask about it, but the lady who would be doing it was not there. But I tried to warn them about the length of my hair, I tried! It seems your average hairdresser becomes incompetent when faced with waist length hair. I had forgotten that we specifically searched for someone who specialized in long hair to do my hair for my wedding. Hairdressers do not like long hair. They are in the business of cutting, therefore they want to cut. If you love long hair, beware your hairdresser. This woman constantly said "it's too long," "I don't know what to do with it." Yeah, thanks lady. Way to inspire confidence in your skills. Or should I say lack thereof. I admit I'm due for a trim, but if this woman had her way, she'd have cut off 6 inches. o_O I'll say again. Beware your hairdresser. It took her three tries, but she finally managed to pull together something. It was a bit more severe than I'd like, but it was ok. Pulled back in a slick, tight ponytail and then strands twisted up and pinned down. Was a bitch to try to get out the next morning. I gave her no tip as I usually do. I'm not going back there. I'll drive farther to my usual place. That woman pissed me off too much.

That whole business took far longer than I'd hoped, and after that I ended up going to two grocery stores to get my last bit of makeup. Lines were horrible. So I got back home late. Cut to quick dressing and half makeup, the rest to be completed in the car as we all go to pick up the rest of our crew. Our destination was a surprise to Mikayla, and I was pleased to share in her excitement. The only thing to dampen our evening was the atrocious weather. Rainy, tho it was only sprinkling mostly. Still, not the fun thing to be running around in with strappy satin heels. My coat turned out to be quite the thing. A long tan velvety thing I picked up for five dollars at a costume and clothier going out of business sale. After I re-sewed some buttons on, this was its first test run, which it passed with flying colors. It was comfortable and quite warm. I was very pleased.

Half the fun of these events is seeing the costumes, both on stage and off ^.~ But in this production of Phantom, I noticed several minor changes. Some of the less important costumes had changed, I swear they had! I have pictures of the original broadway run to compare them to. Most notable changes during Masquerade. But of all, I suppose that hardly matters. The other changes to the production were in lines. I checked the libretto for reference. I remember some changes the first time I saw it. Alteration to the lyrics of Music of the Night have been that way for a good while. But there seemed many more changes since even that viewing. How odd that it would evolve like that. If anyone can shed light on this for me, I'd be happy to hear it. One instance of a change I did like was the addition of lines to Carlotta at the beginning of the musical, when the new managers are just coming on the scene and the first touch of the Opera Ghost is felt. The manager says "These things do happen." And instead of immediately launching into her next line, she says, "What do you know about what happens, you've only been here five minutes." :) Unfortunately we did not have the same woman playing Carlotta that Snaketao enjoyed so. Our Phantom was the usual Raoul, and so we had a different Raoul as well. I thought the Phantom was played a bit more forcefully than I'd like, but it worked. Maybe it's just my foolish romanticism talking. But all in all I enjoyed it. It was a wonderful night. And I'd happily see it again!

Since we were running late, we delayed dinner till after the show, and so got chinese food from a little place we used to always go that stays open till 2 a.m. Beforehand all we had a chance to grab were some McNuggets, which I must say, the new ones are quite tasty, and I'm no fan of MickyD's. When we left we thought it was raining, but when we stepped out in it, we found it was snow! So we all drove back to our house through the snow. We were going to drive Mikayla home, but in the end, let her crazy brother in his souped-up truck drive out and pick her up. Let him risk life and limb instead. Tolarin stayed over. The next day the snow promptly melted and we gamed on Valentines day. But it was ok, I had my Valentines celebration the day before.

Hanging out with Tolarin and Mikayla is odd sometimes. Both are several years younger than the rest of us, which is apparent. Tolarin is usually so over the top that he's a caricature of himself, which can be disconcerting. And Mikayla, well... She's a mirror to what I was like in my younger days. (Well not counting the violent tendencies and the prudishness. I was innocent, not intentionally prudish.) It's a somewhat uncomfortable mirror to look into and see my faults reflected back at me. The overprotective parents and the early curfews. The lack of confidence. But on the other hand, I can see how much I've grown, and that it is possible to get beyond those things. So while unsettling, I suppose Heero and I are the ones who best understand where she's coming from and to encourage her to grow. We'll see.

Dressing Up Can Be Fun
Thursday, February 12, 2004 -|- 02:16 a.m.

It's only days away from Phantom and I'm so excited. Got a new dress and accessories and am planning on getting my hair done. I wasn't originally going to buy something new, but I just fell in love with it. Mint green in chiffon and ruffles with tiny beads. I love it. So feminine. Now we're going with another couple, tho they will have different seats. We'll make an outing of it. Ooh, can't wait.

Ushicon 3, In The Bag
Saturday, February 7, 2004 -|- 12:52 a.m.

It's been a full week since Ushicon and only now do I write about it. It's weird, the time I'd most like to write and have something to say is when I have the least time to write. and when I do have the time, the motivation lags.

It was a good con in my opinion. Though admittedly, when you're working, you don't get to see many things. I finished the cord I had on hand for those charms for the festival. I'm happy people seemed to like them. Saw many people with them clipped on their badges. I've got plenty of wood, so I may get some more cord and make more charms in the future. But instead of minding my charm booth, I ended up with what I swear was the most popular game there. The shooting gallery. What is it with Texans and liking to shoot things? It was Heero's booth, but I'm not surprised he didn't run it, why would I think the con chair would have that kind of time? I think the festival was good, but did make the con feel like that much more of a toll on us.

Friday had opening ceremonies sandwiched between massive concert rehearsal delays. I was in no mood to go to the concert after all that. Kinda sorry I didn't, heard it was great. Oh well :/ But I was around for the mad scramble to get things set up for the autograph session after the concert. Don't these people want to sleep? This was where I saw a flaw in my scheduling of my staff. I did not realize this was going to go on, and so had no gofers on duty then. That'll teach me to pay attention to the schedule. But besides being a little short handed, it all worked out well I think. Guys are usually quite good about helping a lady when she's trying to do something, so was saved most of the heavy lifting after all ^.^ After that, I went to Shoujo Pajama Party, which somehow was mostly SHONEN PJ Party. Quick note, if the main character is a guy, it's shonen. Never seen so many brother/sister romances in my life. I gave up and ate at the security desk when our food arrived.

Saturday's big craziness was the cosplay, and that worked out way better than we had any right to expect it to, what with the brilliant idea of turning the room next door into an overflow room with live video feed. One more thing I didn't actually go to, even though I was in the room helping before.

Sunday was feeling like it should be Monday, but on we trucked. Taking the art show stands downstairs wasn't the most comfortable thing ever, but that's what gofers are for, right? After con dinner was complete with alcohol for me, and I learned just what lightweights some of the other girls are. Still, got a better buzz off of the one drink the night before at a different restaurant than two at this one.

Monday there was the final loading up and going home. Well back to my house anyway, several staff came home with me. Next day, one of the security guys and I went and finally saw Peter Pan, yay! I won't say it's perfect, or that it couldn't have used a bit more acting polishing, or maybe a swapping of Tink, but I enjoyed it. It was more accurate than previous portrayals. And had some fun moments in it. And some cheeky adult themes. But then, it is a story about children just before that scary looming mountain of growing up, so makes sense. I'll also say it lends itself maybe a touch better to fanfiction with the end not being quite so sad if I want to believe it to be.

Overall, I was happy with the con, despite not actually seeing a lot of it as more of an attendee. I felt I was a bit more plugged in with the staff, helping out better and knowing what was going on a bit better this year, and that made me happy. Had the unexpected honor of being in two filmed interviews over the course of the con. Which come to think of it, one of those shows aired today... wonder if it was the Ushi episode yet? Oops. Another unexpected treat was seeing my old Japanese teacher there in line for the concert. Yay, that was cool! And to think I was in her class when we were gearing up for Ushi 1 and here's Ushi 3 passed now. I was happy to see her again, would like to study Japanese again, my skills are leaving me! *sniff* Now things are pretty much back to normal. Jobs and the like. Many of us have our voices back again. Me? I got a cough which turned into a runny nose now. Bleh. Yay, recovery time!

Quizzies! Why Not?
Thursday, January 22, 2004 -|- 01:27 a.m.


You are one of the few out there whose wings are
truly ANGELIC. Selfless, powerful, and
divine, you are one blessed with a certain
cosmic grace. You are unequalled in
peacefulness, love, and beauty. As a Being of
Light your wings are massive and a soft white
or silver. Countless feathers grace them and
radiate the light within you for all the world
to see. You are a defender, protector, and
caretaker. Comforter of the weak and forgiver
of the wrong, chances are you are taken
advantage of once in awhile, maybe quite often.
But your innocence and wisdom sees the good in
everyone and so this mistreatment does not make
you colder. Merciful to the extreme, you will
try to help misguided souls find themselves and
peace. However not all Angelics allow
themselves to be gotten the better of - the
Seraphim for example will be driven to fighting
for the sake of Justice and protection of those
less powerful. Congratulations - and don't ever
change - the world needs more people like you.

*~*~*Claim Your Wings - Pics and Long Answers*~*~*
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Dunno if this is really my type of quiz, but:


Dark shadow. Something has drawn you into darkness
in the past, and you're now trying to get out
of it. The darkness is already inside you, and
getting it out will be hard, but if you try,
maybe one day you can be who you want to be
again. Don't give in!!!

What kind of dark person are you?
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You are Gollum's teddy bear. He likes to cuddle
you and pet you and put bows on your ears and
call you "precious." You don't understand why
Sam tried to throw you into the Dead Marshes.

Which completely non-existant Lord of the Rings object are you?
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Pet Peeves At Work
Wednesday, January 21, 2004 -|- 11:10 p.m.

You know what really bugs me that I keep running into at work? Stupid people. Yes, I work retail, stupid people are par for the course. But I don't have to like it.

One thing that really bugs me is the sheer amount of people calling "muslin" "muslim." It's fabric for crying out loud, not a religion. Not to mention, it's a fabric that's been around for a long, long time. Geez people, get with the program.

Had one person yesterday call and ask if we had a certain book. Now this isn't horribly stupid or unreasonable in itself, but, I have to explain a few things on how my store is set up so you can understand the problem with this question. Now, books in the store are in one of about six places. One place is for quilt books, one for home decorating, one for needlecrafts, one for knitting and crochet, and two for a little bit of everything, including some from all of the above subjects. Now, the way we can look up anything in the store on our computer is by it's SKU number, or the longer UPC. On books especially, we sometimes have a separate number than what may be on the book originally. I have no way of looking up a book by title and author, it's not a book store, it's a fabric and craft store. So sorry lady if I'm not gonna run around the entire store, pawing through just about every book we have on hand to see if we have the one you want. You can come in and do that yourself.

Nother example of stupid people. People who look at a fabric and ask if they can get it in another color. A specific color they have in their head, actually. Yes, let me just call up the manufacturer, who I have no idea who is, and tell them to make up another batch of fabric in the color you want, or better yet, let me go down to the basement where we weave the stuff and tell our child slave labor force to make some up especially for you. No, it doesn't work that way, we get sent what we get sent and that's all we have to go on. Does it come in another color? Hell if I know. And I'm pretty dang sure they won't make up a custom bolt just for you. On another note, there is a very small amount of special occasion fabric that I have a special order book on and can see what it comes in, but the majority of the fabric we carry, I have no frikkin clue. I don't even know who makes just about any of the fabric we carry unless it's printed on the selvage of the fabric. It all comes in unmarked. Some big guy way up on the company ladder in Ohio chooses what we carry, which explains all the fleece we have even tho we're in Texas.

*Sigh* Starting Feb. 1 seems my manager is cracking down on being late for shifts. Not sure if this a chain wide thing, or just my manager. For some reason I suspect the latter. Anyone that knows me should know what a serious issue this is to me. My entire life I've had a problem with being on time to anything. Now, I'm rarely late by very much time, as much as five minutes, maybe ten if it's a bad day, but if I'm early to something it's enough to make people comment. Back in high school, I got like what was it, 49 tardies, and on the 50th, my zero hour teacher was going to make an announcement on the PA system. I somehow managed to made it through the end of that semester with only 49. I had detention more than a couple of times only for tardies, but as that was all it was for, I could do what I wanted during that time. Part of it, I think, comes from my thinking that "on time" means I'm in the parking lot by the required time. I've tried to change my conception of this before to no avail. I know my overall problem is my tendency to linger and my inertia, probably tied to my personality and general lack of energy. It's difficult for me to motivate myself and to get moving on anything. I am a creature of inertia. A body at rest tends to stay at rest, a body in motion tends to stay in motion. Which can be good if I ever do get started on something, I don't like to quit, but the getting started, hoo eee. And the stopping for things like food and sleep, not real good at either. If I was a super hero, I'd be Captain Linger. Maybe hero isn't the right word... Anyway, not entirely sure what these PIP tardy write ups will mean, but I'm sure they can't be good. LORD help me, I've got to manage to change somehow. I need the money, and despite the stupid people, I like my job. Or at least, I like my employee discount.

Which makes me remember back when I didn't dread going to work. When I first started there I was ecstatic. Still, once in a while I'll help a guest that makes me feel good about working there again. I'm an introvert, so being bright and cheery and talking to people all the time is a bit of a struggle for me. Give me a box of stuff to put out and let me hide in a corner and I'm happy. But it's the clueless people who know that they are clueless and willing to put themselves in your hands that I like. Something where I can use my creativity to suggest solutions or options to their project. My creative abilities are usually squandered when the only questions I get are on yardage for home dec projects, which I know next to nothing about. Now on the other hand, clueless people who think they know what they are doing or want something impossible are downright annoying. You just stare at them and know they're going to fail, but they don't want to hear any differently. Oh well, it's on their head then. Either way, I'm glad I had the day off today. I think I needed it. Too much time straining to be an extrovert for idiots taxes my nerves.

The Ring
Saturday, January 17, 2004 -|- 10:44 p.m.

Thursday night, Snake Boy finally convinced me to see The Ring against my better judgement. Yeah, it was a lot like I expected, meaning it sucked. Not my type of movie. I suppose it's ok if you like that sort of thing, and it could have been worse. But I'm just not fond of having disturbing images in my head. The only barely redeeming point to it was in the deleted scenes, where in the background, Aqua Teen Hunger Force is playing on the TV. Wheee, go geekdom. Still, so not worth it.

Wacky Weekend
Monday, January 5, 2004 -|- 12:00 a.m.

This weekend saw a gathering of people at my house. There were many memorable moments: the questioning of manhood and proving of said by fully grown men singing 80's Madonna and Cindi Lauper songs in falsetto. Anyone understand how that works? And the now infamous syrup soap opera. And that was just Friday night. Ah, good times, good times.

Forgotten Disturbances
Sunday, January 4, 2004 -|- 10:01 p.m.

I can't believe I forgot to post about an unsettling moment from my holiday weekend. When we were all at a Japanese restaurant, I look over at some of the other people there at the end of the meal, and what do I see but a bowl of rice with a pair of chopsticks sticking straight up in it. I must really be absorbing Japanese culture after all these years of fandom, because I was genuinely upset at seeing that. Gah.

And leaving dim sum on another day, I spotted a girl wearing an Evenstar pendant :) That was pleasant. Want one one day... After seeing Return of the King, I feel I can stop wearing my One Ring... and yet, I am reluctant to lay it aside after so long. But according to the book, the Evenstar is the replacement for the One Ring on its chain. We will see.

Holiday Weekend
Monday, December 29, 2003 -|- 09:20 p.m.

Well it was a good Christmas for me, despite having to work the day before and after. Not a lot of loot, but got some stuff I wanted, so is good :) Had some friends over and we played Karaoke Revolution. Back in Jr. High, I was in honor choir, so I can sing, even if it's been quite a while since I practiced. But back then somehow I managed to avoid solos when we went to contest, not sure how I did it, but I did. Always been shy and terrified of singing alone in front of people. So when this game was brought out I was reluctant to try it. But at everyone's encouragement and pushing I tried it. (Yeah, pushing at my reluctance sometimes works with me, what do you want? Something I want to do, but I'm scared, so I want someone to assure me I'll be fine and talk me into it until I give in. Is that a game to some people? Say one thing and mean another? It's not supposed to be to me.) Anyway, I tried it and it was fun. Gut into it after braving my fear. Will have to try it again. Of course the fact that I was acknowledged as the best singer in the group did nothing to hurt my ego ^.^

This weekend, Heero and I went to visit his family. Got a lot of yummy Japanese food and Dim Sum. Possibly ate too much, but it was all so good. Was amused as when we went to church, there was a father with his three boys sitting in front of us. The middle one was oh, I suppose somewhere between eight and ten? I swear he was the spitting image of a young Elijah Wood, only with big brown eyes instead of blue. So cute ^.^ No, I didn't do anything but look, shame on you for thinking that.

In other news, one of my staff for Ushicon that I was warned was a potential problem is proving herself so. I don't particularly smile upon pathological lying. We'll see if telling her to just shut up and stay that way works. If not, I'm fully prepared to hand her her walking papers. In one way I'm pleased with myself. No, I certainly don't need more stress, but I'm proud that I'm to the point that I'm not gonna take any crap. I'm usually a very easygoing person. Go along to get along. But it's good to be able to stand up for yourself when you have to. I'm proud of me :)

Give The Hobbit A Break
Monday, December 22, 2003 -|- 10:11 p.m.

Don't get me wrong, I love all four hobbits of the Fellowship. Return of the King is where three of them really get to shine. But what about Frodo? The hobbit that carries such a heavy burden and corrupting influence by his own choice to save all of Middle Earth. You that mock him, do you honestly think you could keep it together any better under such strain? Or even as well? Would you even choose to do it? Found an article that speaks to this issue of the overshadowing of Frodo by other characters here Read it. It meant a lot to me.

Quiz Time
Monday, December 22, 2003 -|- 07:12 p.m.


You are Jupiter... Lucky, Careless, Philosophical.

What planet do you represent? (Anime Pictures Girls) Please Rate!!!
brought to you by Quizilla


You are GIR! Zim's insane robot sidekick, you love
everything. TACOS!

.:: Which Invader ZIM Character are You? ::.
brought to you by Quizilla

Second Viewing
Sunday, December 21, 2003 -|- 12:24 a.m.

I saw Return of the King a second time today, this time with Heero and one other friend. I'm glad I saw the first time with Elfie. The audience for the premiere was more fun. This one was pretty silent. But I was happy that the guy next to me was crying at the end. Ha ha! It's not just fangirls who get emotionally involved. But why, why must Heero constantly bag on Frodo? Why must he mock what I love? Gaah. And he still thinks Men lack tactics that don't suck.

But I was of course glad to see it again. This time I could appreciate it as a movie a bit more as wasn't seeing how it was different from the book. Though of course it was not quite as tear-jerking as the first viewing. Though there were indeed tears shed on this viewing as well. *Spoilers* You have been warned.

Some changes bothered me. Like Sam would never give up and turn back, never! But I do admit I didn't mind how they did it too much. But in the dividing of Frodo's clothes, why was he still wearing pants? Pants have pockets for hiding things. There were no pants in the book! Mmm, no pants. Ok, maybe it's just me who wants to see that I'm willing to concede. And then we don't get to see the presenting of his clothes to the Fellowship outside the Black Gate and have poor Pippin freak out. The battles were definitely trundicated. Eowyn's scene should have been a little cooler, tho I did like how she looked completely terrified behind her helmet, but fought anyway. But they skipped over the effects of it, no Houses of Healing. And the Corsair's ships arriving was definitely cooler in the book. More tension as you think that the good guys are screwed, and then, wait, they aren't! And finally, one "cool" Legolas scene that didn't make me gag. Not that I was waiting for one, but at least it didn't detract. No Beregond, dang it. I really liked him. He was a cool guy. I guess I can understand why he wasn't there in the movie tho. I still wanted to see the Scouring of the Shire, but knew it wasn't gonna happen. Yay, we get to see Rosie, Elanor and little Frodo, tho technically he shouldn't be born yet. To sum up: Sam simply rocks. Gotta love Merry. He catches on fast. A great one to talk to I think. Pippin has his problems, but comes along nicely. I screamed when he killed an orc on my first viewing :) And poor Frodo. Yes, he does lose himself, but he's still my favorite. Heero calling him an asshat won't change my mind.

Melancholy
Wednesday, December 17, 2003 -|- 03:19 a.m.

Just got home from seeing Trillogy Tuesday. I'm tired, but don't relly feel like sleeping just yet, even though I've had little to no sleep lately. The elf dress got put together, tho only at the last minute and we once again missed the costume contest. Why does that always happen to me? Anyway, we had a devil of a time finding two seats together, but we eventually got crap third row from front seats. A lot of action on the screen that close is disorienting. I had spots fighting sleep both in Fellowship and Towers, but I had no trouble staying awake for the premire of Return of the Kink. Whoops, I mean King. Don't know why I'd confuse that ;)

I was all but edge of my seat the whole time. What did I think? I laughed, I cried, I whooped, hollared, screamed and tried my best not to sob noisily and instead just mutilate kleenex. Peter Jackson is a tease in this movie! And I agree with one review I saw which called it the 12 endings of ROTK. But with so many threads, it's not surprising. I don't know all of what I think yet. I am very tired right now. Some things I really liked, other things I thought were a bit trundicated and were better in the book. I'll be able to sort out more in a second viewing. It seems to take me two viewings to really take a movie in. But now, at the end, I'm feeling rather melancholy. Many sad notes. I didn't want it to end. But my lack of sleep I think will close my eyes before my feelings die down. So, I'll end here tonight with the thought that some clips I've seen must be on the eventual extended edition, because I didn't see them.

No Rest For The Weary
Monday, December 15, 2003 -|- 05:48 a.m.

Working hard on doing the elven dress I promised to WMC to be ready for Trillogy Tuesday. *shakes head* Wish me luck. For I have no time. Started out like Arwen's Hope Dress, ending up a bit more Galadriel's Prolog dress. We'll see how it ends up. If it gets done. See my link to LOTR Costuming, in the elven section under characters to see what I mean. Aaaaa! Back to sewing.

All Of Your Fears Will Pass Away...
Wednesday, December 10, 2003 -|- 07:18 p.m.

Why is it that problems come when you have no time at all to spare for them?

As I'm sure several of those reading are aware, I've had some problems come up among some friends of mine. The aftermath has left me angry, and when that faded to dissapointment, I was left drained of all energy and emotionally bottomed out. As if I didn't have enough problems with energy as it was.

But at the bottom of my despair, it happened that it was the day that my parents called. I was in no mood to talk to anyone, but I'm glad I did. Talking to my mother really helped. She reminded me to pray about it before I replied to anything. Through prayer and talking things out with her I was able to find peace again. So though the day was a complete wash for any work, in the end something was resolved in my mind at least. I just went to bed and got some sleep.

In the morning I woke up with the song "Into the West" in my mind. Where as in the past, the song was painful and full of bittersweet grief, now there was a sweetness and a peace. A touch of sadness maybe, but mostly just a sense of sweet peace. It's been in my mind all day. Now I think I'm ready to go on again. Now if only I can spare the time to write the replies I need to.

Insanity
Tuesday, December 9, 2003 -|- 04:56 p.m.

I've decided everyone I know is insane. Varing levels, but all insane. Even me, tho I hope at a less psychotic level. I may be nuts, but at least I'm harmless. Can't say the same for the rest of the world.

And Speaking Of Partings...
Monday, December 8, 2003 -|- 12:03 a.m.

I heard from a friend I hadn't heard from in a good while the other day. Seems her marriage has broken up and she is moving back home. This was a bit of a shake up to me. Tho I hadn't heard from her in a while, she was a good friend growing up, and she was a part of my wedding. Maid of honor actually. And she has two small children. *shakes head* Seems it boiled down to infidelity oh his part. This evidently hit me close to home, as the night after I heard the news, I dreamed my parents were seperating. Was very glad to wake up from that and realize it was only a dream. I'm 26 and have been away from home for 4 years, but the thought of the home I knew breaking up still is frightening and upsetting. I am blessed that my parents are a very solid couple who have weathered many a storm that could have broken lesser people, but they have always come out strong. What has happened to the values of old? What happened to loyalty and commitment and the sanctity of marriage? Our society has turned into a throw away society. A bunch of stinking quitters. And I'll tell you why. It's all because we've turned away from God. Turned away from the foundation that made our country great. That I live in a country where it's illegal to post the Ten Commandments with its message of "do not kill, do not steal, do not commit adultary" sickens me. Why should this be offensive to any but those who are breaking these commandments? Or is that why those who fight to remove them do so? When are these idiots going to realize that the iron flag they wave of seperation of church of state isn't in the firking constitution? It's in a freaking letter, not an official document. It was supposed to protect the church and keep there from becoming an govenment-enforced church state that you had to belong to with no other choice. I imaginge our forefathers are all spinning in their graves. And not just on this issue. I understand that mankind's natural state is to be a selfish jerk. It's the sin-nature of the world we were born into. And why do people keep thinking that God is out to get them? That's simply not true. Give credit where it's due, that's the Devil's hobby to make you miserable, not God's. It's hard to see that there is purpose and hope and goodness in this world sometimes, because things can get very bad. But there is, even if that purpose seems constantly thwarted. Remember, there is an ancient struggle going on that colors our world, even though we rarely see the big pictutre. I believe only by growing closer to the one who is on our side, will things become clearer. There is protection there. Sadly, as in life, those who are really doing something for either side are elevated in notice for good and ill. It's a constant war, and generals get hit the hardest because they could be a threat. That's not to say that everyone that has something bad happen to them is a general, that's just the way the Devil is. He doesn't care who you are, as long as he can hurt you. That is what evil is. I believe there is a greater purpose to my life, even if I can't see it. How can we know how we effect all those whose lives we touch? But that certainty brings me comfort.

There is some good in this world. And it's worth fighing for.

Sing To Me Of Bittersweet Partings
Sunday, December 7, 2003 -|- 11:27 p.m.

First, a quiz. Was there ever any doubt in anyone's mind?


Hobbit

To which race of Middle Earth do you belong?
brought to you by Quizilla

And another link. WMC sent me to a page of LOTR doujinshi. They are sooo adorable! Just look at those beyond kawaii hobbits! I want... And look, Frodo's holding a giant mushroom in the midde picture. Awwwww. ^.^

I should have posted days ago, but as usual, I procrastinate. I picked up the ROTK soundtrack the other day to listen to while I work on costuming. It's wonderful. It also works great as the motivation I intended it to be. Only problem is I break down crying and have to stop what I'm doing during the final track, 'Into The West.' The first listen was especially bad. Severe emotional reaction. But then, that's as it should be. I tear up just hearing the song in my head even now. Annie Lennox does an amazing job with a powerfully emotional song. Much better than TTT end song. I'll give that I came to appreciate 'Gollum's Song,' but the subject matter wasn't as good to start with. This, I didn't have to grow into. I think it captures perfectly what it should. All there is to do now is see how it works with the movie, but I'm certain it will be perfect. The rest of the soundtrack is fabulous as well. And this time we get two of the fellowship singing! I adore the song Pippin sings. He has a wonderfully soothing voice. Will have to transcrbe the lyrics one day so I can sing more than snatches of it to myself.

I managed to tape my cat destroyed pattern back together. Amazing feat. I didn't think it was salvageable. Go me! Amazing what determination, a bit of time and a lot of tape can do.

Hobbits Kick Butt
Saturday, November 29, 2003 -|- 11:39 p.m.

Finally succumbed. Finished reading all of Return of the King, including all of the appendices. Man, I want to see this movie now! I cried at least three times, not counting what was left out of TTT movie, so you can bet I'll be a sobbing wreck at multiple turns. I'm hoping the movie will be different from the book in that we don't see much from Frodo's perspective in ROTK. But the others we do see, wow! Amazing. I'm upset that the scouring of the Shire won't be in the movie after reading about it. Hobbits riding up on their ponies and kicking some tacky human butt out of their lands. That was awesome! I loved that.

I'm mad at my cat. Came home from the holidays to find that part of the pattern I'd been working on for WMC was shredded. And even worse, it's discontinued so I can't get another copy. December 16 looms ever closer... *whimpers* I hope I can save it. Thankfully, I'm pretty sure I still have a smaller version of the pattern somewhere, so if worse comes to worse, maybe I can seriously upsize that. Wish me luck.

The Precious! The Precious is Mine!
Wednesday, November 26, 2003 -|- 07:53 p.m.

*Squeeeeee!* I have the precious! I went up to visit my parents, tempted by the promise of seeing their copy of TTT EE. But what happens when I get here? They evidently decided to give it to me instead. On one hand I'm overjoyed, the other wanted the whole gift set since I had to wait. Not that I really wanted the Gollum statue looking at me. Tho not having those Argonath bookends from the Fellowship EE does sometimes gall me. But I do kinda want that extra DVD and book...

*Spoilers Ahead*

I watched the precious. It was sooooooo good! I'm still grinning like a fool. Man, that whole thing with Merry and Pippin at the end really lightened my heart. When Pip finds that apple floating next to him and looks up in the air like he did in Fellowship when Aragorn chunked that apple at him, that was the best. I completely broke out in laughter. And finally, I'm satisfied with the three hunters abandoning their search for the two hobbits. This time it actually shows them getting assured that they're all right. So many things fleshed out that bugged me before. Even some that I didn't think about, but if I had would have bothered me. The part added with Faramir, I really think helped redeem how he was acting. Makes so much more sense now. But, on the other hand, people seemed to know a little more of what was going on than maybe they should. Ah well.

*Spoiler End*

I gave in and started reading Return of the King. Glad I did. Once again, I notice so many lines from the book, perhaps out of sequence, or spoken by someone else, but there clear as a bell. I can't wait. Sometimes I admit to finding reading Tolkien a bit difficult, but I really got into it. Read the whole first half of the book and started on the next in one day. It's gonna be good, I know it. I'm so happy that they had someone make these movies that had so much love for them. You can really see the care poured into it. Thank you Peter Jackson. I'll never be able to thank you enough.

The Precious Calls To Us
Wednesday, November 19, 2003 -|- 01:50 a.m.

The Extended Edition of The Two Towers is now out and I don't have it! What with the new house and pet expenses, money is slim. So consequently will have to wait till Christmas for my own copy of TTT EE. *sob* The Precious is calling to us, and we is wanting the Precious! So close and yet just out of reach... Hmm, maybe if I toted Sting to the local Wal-Mart and demanded they give me a copy? Nah, would probably just end up getting my sword taken away from me. And I like Sting too much to let that happen.

Been trying to decide what to do for Thanksgiving. Evidently my father bought a copy of TTT EE and dangled that bait in front of my nose. Hmm, knows my weakness he does. May have to go visit my parents after all.
The things I do for the love of hobbits.

I Like Killing Orcs
Tuesday, November 11, 2003 -|- 01:13 a.m.

Had some people down to visit this weekend. One friend brought his PS2 and The Two Towers game and Qidditch World Cup. I really liked those games. I never played video games as a kid, so consequently, also seldom do now and am not that good at it. But these games were fairly easy to play and I caught onto rather quickly. I like killing orcs! Tho admit to getting perverse pleasure out of setting ringwraiths on fire to keep them away from Frodo. Always means more when you're fighting to protect something, or in this case, someone. Had a blast playing qidditch too. Played Hufflepuff of course. Go Cedric Diggory! When I stopped playing and closed my eyes later, I was still seeing myself play quidditch. Man, I want a PS2 now... But my thumbs are glad for the break. They aren't used to the abuse.

Co-Dependant Stalker Cat
Tuesday, November 11, 2003 -|- 01:01 a.m.

My kitty is weird. He's taken to scratching on glass. The windows were one thing. I thought he just wanted to be outside or maybe there's a bug on the other side. But then he starts doing it to the mirror. What, is he shadow boxing with himself? But it gets even weirder for me when I was in the shower. I have a glass shower stall, and he's clawing the door while I'm in there. You think you want in cat? I don't think you want a shower. But then he jumps up on the ledge between the tub and the shower and does it again. So I hear the noise behind me and turn around. There he is, eye level to me, scratching away. Can I not even take a shower in peace?

Musing over Heartbreak
Wednesday, November 5, 2003 -|- 10:48 p.m.

Read a few articles about the coming Return of the King movie today. Got me to thinking. I will have to bring many a tissue to the premiere with me, I'll need them. Angst is an interesting issue to me. I have grown past the point that teen angst is anything more than an irritation. Irritating and trivial. But real angst over a real issue, well I guess that's different. Nobody wishes for angst in their daily lives, but in a story... In a story we want to feel. P.J., I want angst in this final chapter. Buckets of it. Break my heart into tiny crystalline shards and make me love you for it.

I've had two other stories do that to me that I can remember right now. Ok, maybe three. Lastly remembered first, there is the end of season two of Buffy where she has to send Angel to hell right after he's been returned to himself. This is a heartbreaking episode and a marvelous season ender. It lost some of it's power to me because it was the first episode of Buffy I had ever seen, I had no emotional connection to the characters, I barely knew who they were. And seeing it again, I knew what was going to happen. But even then, it had power. Would that I could have seen it from the beginning first...

The second is the end of Full Moon wo Sagashite. I'll not spoil it if on the odd chance someone other than the 3 people I know is actually reading this. But, safe to say, I felt my heart had been ripped out of my chest, smashed, the pieces swept into a pretty box, tied with a ribbon and handed back to me..

And finally, the first one that came to mind. Phantom of the Opera. Which will be playing here the week after Ushicon. I want to go so much... That was where I first coined the phrase "exquisite heartbreak" A feeling so beautiful and painful at the same time that you don't want it to end, but can't bear it at the same time. Your heart and throat contract and you feel you can't breathe. You feel as if your heart is really breaking. But it's not happening to you, you're just a silent part of it all, watching it happen and experiencing it through the characters. That's why it's "safe." You're life isn't falling apart, but that feeling takes control of you and holds you like it is. I guess that's what many people's lives are in search of. To feel.

But before this turns into another discussion entirely. I guess that's what it is I want out of this third movie. I want to feel the story and the characters, not just see it. I want a happy ending, but the best I hope for is bittersweet. So, in the end I want my heart broken, but held together with a tiny shimmering glow of hope. Is that strange of me to ask?

What's New in Anime?
Wednesday, November 5, 2003 -|- 05:35 p.m.

And now it's time for anime news. What is the Hobbitie watching when she isn't watching Lord of the Rings?

That answer is Naruto. Strange really. It's not the kind of show I pictured myself getting into. Ninja-in-training isn't particularly my genre. But these characters have so much heart that you quickly find yourself caring about their lives and what happens to them. Often I like shows better in the beginning, before too many new characters join and the intimate focus of the show is lost. Not so with this show. My favorite arc is the chunin exams, when many new characters are introduced. I think it's because every character is fully fleshed out and independent, not to mention the story gets deeper and more expansive than ever before. If you haven't seen Naruto, check it out.

There's also another sort of anime I'm watching. I say sort of, because it's a Live Action version of a beloved anime. Namely, Sailor Moon. Sailor Moon has long been my favorite anime of all time, and not just because it was my introduction into anime. I personally identify with Usagi (or Serena for you American fans) and firmly believe that the romance between Usagi and Mamoru is one of the most beautiful stories ever told. It has everything I've ever loved. Ancient kingdoms, the moon and stars, heroines fighting for good, friendships and a romance that crosses time and space.

A lot of people disregarded Usagi as a whiny crybaby. But they don't really understand her or see her for what she really is. I think the R movie really highlights it. (The sub anyway) Usagi, just by her nature, brought out these lonely four girls and one boy and brought them together where they were loved and accepted. Each and every one of them was a loner with no friends and mostly no family to speak of. Left to themselves, they would have continued the way they were, but enter cheery, openhearted Usagi who invites them to be a part of her world and changes their lives. Does Usagi understand what she really did for them? Possibly on a deep level somewhere, but she's just doing what comes naturally to her, making friends.

And I love that she's a reluctant hero. Why are all my favorite hero's reluctant? Probably because if you told me I had to save the world, my first thought would be, "Not me, I'm sure there's someone braver or more capable." But in the end you do the right thing because it's the right thing to do. I have a hard time believing in heroes who are into it from the beginning. Who would be like that? Wouldn't everyone rather be snug and safe at home rather than fighting for their lives? I know I would. But that's what makes them heroes. Usagi isn't naturally brave or a leader, but she grows into those things. And that makes me admire her even more. And as a choice as leader, she is perfect, whether she realizes it or not. All the other senshi have goals of their own, Usagi is the one who brought them together, and she is the only one who can keep them together. She's senshi glue. ^_^ I don't think that the senshi could agree on anyone else leading them.

Now, all that said, I define the manga as the definitive word on Sailor Moon. I loved the anime, but it did fall short I felt, especially in later seasons. Monster of the week and losing focus of the underlying love story are some of the things I hold against it. I also think it belittled how much Usagi grew as the series progressed. For those reasons, The first two seasons are my favorite. I remember well the very first episode I saw on TV. It was from R, the charm shop episode. The scenes with Usagi desperately trying to talk to an unresponsive Mamoru hit me like an arrow through my heart. I had been there. My own experiences with my first boyfriend were echoed emotionally to a profound degree. And that, my friends, is why Sailor Moon will always be such a personal story to me. I am Usagi. At least in spirit. I only hope that this new incarnation of the show will fulfill the gaps the anime left. And mostly, I feel it is doing so. Here's hoping it will continue.

Catching Up
Wednesday, November 5, 2003 -|- 03:40 p.m.

I've been meaning to post for an age now, but didn't want to do so until I archived. And well, this hobbitie is very hobbity. New things like technology scare her. So today is when I finally got off my procrastinating butt and braved the scary world of archiving all by myself. As you can see, I survived.

Well well, so much has happened since my last post. I've moved into my new house. A house, yay, a house! And a yard, oooh, a yard. With *gasp* plants! Eeeheehee! I love plants. Never really messed with them before, but I find they bring me joy. Even weeding doesn't bother me much. *Eyes another thorny vine coming up in the flower bed* Hmm, must dig that out soon.

Few months ago, on Father's day exactly, I found a little black kitten under a vine in my apartment complex. Well, he didn't take too kindly to my dog, harmless thing that she is, and I had nothing for a cat and little room, not to mention soon to be moving, so I left him with a friend who had a cat for the time being. Put up fliers, but no one responded. And then, months later at my housewarming, I get him back. Warm fuzzy cuddly kitties, how I've missed them. He got named while he was away, and it's kind of stuck for better or worse. He can be a bit of a fuzzy terror, but it's so nice to have a kitty again.

Lord of the Rings! My joy and fangirl obsession. I am one of the envied holders of a ticket to the marathon to rule them all! Trilogy Tuesday, my elfie friend and I will be there, as elves and hobbits, to watch our Middle-Earth heartthrobs on the big screen for hours on end. Will this all day ordeal cure us or drive our obsession even deeper? I reserve judgement (but highly suspect the latter.) I am very thankful I have a ticket. If it were not for the wise prompting of Elfie, I would have delayed and all hope of obtaining the precious would have vanished faster than food at a hobbit shindig (which the tickets did). Elfie is wise in the way of rabid fans. I owe many thanks to her. And shall repay her with her own costume for the event. So much to do before Dec. I'll be a busy little hobbit!

What else, what else. Ah. Halloween saw yet another wearing of my hobbit costume. Should have put boning in the side seams, grr. I want to make a new version, but we'll see if I have time. If I know me, it may have to wait till after the premiere. Followed advice I got from a wig panel at AnimeFest, and got hold of some wig tape to hold my wig in place. For once I'm thankful for my high forehead. It worked great. Usually, I end up fiddling with and readjusting my slipping wig constantly, but I didn't have to do that once this time. I did manage to catch a few of my hairs in the sticky tape and removing it was a bit painful, but overall, I'm very happy with how it worked out and will be using it for all future wig occasions. This year, I also got a new, bigger bottle of spirit gum for my ear and foot hair augmentation. Unfortunately, this brand doesn't stick as well as the old. Doesn't leave as much of a mess to remove either, but I guess that's the price you pay. Curses. Ah well, guess bigger really doesn't mean better, or unfortunately, even as good. Which I guess just proves my theory: Good things come in little packages.