Mirrors vs. Windows

With hope for a future more bright

Mon, 11 Nov 2024 18:36:07 GMT

In honor of Veterans' Day, here is a link to my Star Trek story

Soldier's Wife.

May we find our way out of the dark.

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My Casey has gone to the lap of Bastet

Sun, 25 Jul 2021 19:35:19 GMT

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Farewell, my love.

17 years was too short a time.

Lullaby little cat, wherever you're at
May you lie in the sun and be loved by someone
May you curl up and rest, with a quilt for a nest
May you run, may you leap, and be young in your sleep.

-- Garrison Keillor

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Wild night!

Wed, 03 Jun 2020 04:10:10 GMT

The protests from Hollywood have reached my area. I can hear the crowds and the honks from the cars over on Sunset about four blocks away. Now it's a bit fainter, I think they're headed downtown on Sunset.

Damn, I wish I could join them. I wish I could at least walk up there and give 'em a supporting holler. If I were ten years younger...

Such times we're living through.

Whoa, a huge noise. Many voices in a big shout. Something happened. Man, I hope no one got hurt.

But the country's on the move, and who knows where we're headed? At least it feels like a logjam has broken - people are out and angry and reacting, and how pissed they are you can gauge by their willingness to do this while the health stakes are still so high.

What I'm wondering is, how angry will people still be in November? What will happen between now and then? Five months is a long time when things are this crazy.

Hope everyone's staying safe.

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"Should we tell him?" "How can we not?"

Wed, 21 Aug 2019 06:28:19 GMT

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Idea for a scene from The West Wing:

Josh and Sam walk into the Oval Office. Bartlet looks up from his papers and asks, "Why the long faces?" Josh and Sam glance at each other.

"You want to tell him?" Josh asks.

"I think you should tell him," Sam replies.

Josh clears his throat. "Sir, it looks like Denmark says Greenland isn't for sale."

Bartlet, visibly startled, says, "Well, I should hope not." Josh and Sam look at each other, then look away. "Are you telling me we were thinking of buying Greenland?" Bartlet asks incredulously.

Sam murmurs, "I told you it wasn't a good idea." Josh talks over him, "Sir, we thought it might be worth looking into, what with all their... mineral resources... and..." He stops, frozen by Bartlet's stare.

Leo comes in and asks what's going on.

Bartlet replies, "It looks like Greenland isn't for sale."

Leo glares at the two abashed staffers and says vehemently, "Well, I should hope not!"

Thus ensues a three-minute lecture from Bartlet (aided by a pissed-off Leo) about North European economics as they relate to dumbass ideas like that, interrupted only when Abbie comes in and tells Jed to leave the boys alone and let them get back to recess.

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Some books should stay books, and some writers should stay writers...

Fri, 16 Aug 2019 03:06:23 GMT

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So I watched the movie "Tolkien" last night, and it brought out in full relief what I find so frustrating about most biopics, and that's how unnecessary so many of them are. Take this one, for example. There really isn't anything extraordinary or unusual about his life. He was an orphan, he fell in love, his guardian said "you must wait til you're an adult". Then he went to war and survived (his friends did not). Then he came home and became a professor, got married, had some kids. Nothing about any of that deserves a whole movie. The only thing that makes it interesting is the fact that decades later Tolkien published some amazing stories that appear to have been influenced by his personal history. But other than a couple of anecdotes he related, there's no way to know exactly what influenced him in what way, or whether its influence was direct, or anything else. Tolkien himself said he detested allegory and tried to avoid it whenever he caught a whiff of it, so claiming that the flamethrowers became dragons, or that his personal batman was the reason he wrote Sam Gamgee, is spurious.

And what's really maddening on that score is the things we DO know were direct influences - like his future wife dancing for him on a picnic, which gave birth to an enormous part of his legendarium in that instant - are treated like little throwaway moments, while the film is busy extrapolating HUGE MEANING out of stuff that's iffy at best and a flat out fabrication at worst. AND the film is shy about naming names or doing any direct attribution, so unless you already know his story, you're left wondering what's so important about, say, the steams and smokes rising above the battlefield that the director feels he has to keep hammering home how ugly it all is. It's just so fucking hamhanded and clueless and CLUMSY, I couldn't figure out why anyone would have thought this film was a good idea.

ARGH

And how are all of you?
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Sun, 13 May 2018 17:47:47 GMT

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In case you haven't met him yet, let me introduce Jim Jeffries:

Xanda the Lion and the Bloodlust of Trophy Hunters

Jim is an Aussie comic transplanted to the US. He's the genius who wrote Gun Control, one of the most useful comedy bits I've ever seen. In the video above, he nails everything that's two-faced, self-serving, and abhorrent about "hunting" as it's practiced in the US. This guy has a talent for nailing things on the head.

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The forests of Lebanon, the falls of the Nile

Sat, 14 Apr 2018 18:39:10 GMT

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Take a listen to this. Oud player Ahmed Alshaiba gives a Middle Eastern spin to a beloved soundtrack classic:

The Gael from The Last of the Mohicans

It's so fascinating to hear the effect when taking music of one cultural type and transforming it into music of another. This reminds me of what Loreena McKennitt did to God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen. Just lovely.

Enjoy!

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Lucas says hi!

Sun, 01 Apr 2018 22:14:06 GMT

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Hey, everyone. Sorry I haven't been around. I keep thinking I'm going to post more often, and then I don't. I think I might be tired of the internet. *sigh*

Anyway, I know some people don't like spiders, so I thought I'd post this. Lucas is an animation project by Joshua Slice, who decided to do something about people's arachnophobia. Thus, meet Lucas - the cutest spider in the world.

Lucas the Spider
He has too many eyeballs.

Lucas is voiced by Slice's five-year-old nephew, and is designed with all the visual tropes used by animators to humanize animals - big eyes that blink, short limbs, unthreatening postures. He is, in truth, the cutest spider I've ever seen.

Lucas has his own Youtube channel, where you can watch him playing in the sink, dealing with the new "polar bear" in the house, and cleverly escaping capture in a wine glass. (The one where he plays a tiny harp and sings a song will lay you out flat, it's so adorable.)

Here's a video about Lucas's origins and process.

Lucas's creator explains how he makes people
fall in love with spiders.

Enjoy!

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Tue, 06 Feb 2018 22:28:39 GMT

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dianapeaceful has uploaded another beautiful video:

讚佛偈 (Praising the Buddha)

This is one of my favorite YT channels. Lots of wonderful calm, meditative music, with lovely images to match. I use the music on this channel to calm and center myself, especially when I'm in the kitchen. It helps me infuse loving energy into whatever I'm making.

Enjoy! )O(

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Fri, 02 Feb 2018 22:04:37 GMT

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So I just found out my mom has cancer. It's in her lungs. She tells me she's going to get a CAT scan to see if it's migrated to her brain, and then she'll start meeting with an oncologist. She feels good, at least she doesn't feel sick other than a couple of things she's been dealing with for years, so we're hopeful. But she's in her late 80's, and I don't know how much chemo or anything else will really help her. Now I'm thankful that I live in this little house behind my parents, because I can help her with anything she needs. She's scared, of course, and so are the rest of us (we haven't told any of the kids). I told her to ask about mental health care, as she'll need someone to give her advice and techniques on how to manage her emotional state. (She has essential tremors, which are made worse by stress, so she is going to need this kind of help, as well.)

I'm really scared. I don't want to lose my mom, even though I know it's inevitable. I can't imagine being without her.

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More LOL

Mon, 29 Jan 2018 02:48:35 GMT

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Was over at Pagiba just now reading some capsule reviews of Netflix shows. (I don't get the streaming service, but it's interesting to hear what's on.) In one blurb about I Don't Belong In This World Anymore, this:

... while Elijah Wood continues a streak of oddball indie roles designed to ensure that no one ever finds him sexually appealing again.

HA. I love it. (I didn't like that film. To be honest, I don't like most of the movies Elijah is doing these days. I'm deeply tired of "quirky" films, myself.)

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LOL

Sun, 28 Jan 2018 21:36:06 GMT

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Scratch, scratch, scratch, scratch...

The Spider Who Couldn't Hide

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Harvesting honey in Nepal

Sat, 27 Jan 2018 04:50:45 GMT

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brb dead now

Wed, 24 Jan 2018 23:08:55 GMT

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Riding

Tue, 23 Jan 2018 18:39:05 GMT

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Mon, 22 Jan 2018 19:22:56 GMT

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Hidden music

Thu, 04 Jan 2018 02:11:34 GMT

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Did you know there was a theme song for the film War Games that was never used?

War Games - Crosby, Stills, and Nash

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Mon, 01 Jan 2018 01:07:03 GMT

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May this year bring better times!

I haven't been around much this last year, as I got very into the political thing. But along with that, I developed acid reflux and was miserable for quite a bit of it. Having finally decided to back away from the stress and constant anxiety by avoiding politics, I find myself physically better (my stomach, anyway) and mentally calmer. I'm hoping to spend more time here again, sharing pics and trying to coax my boys to come talk to me!

Many hugs to all, and a kinder, sweeter year ahead!

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Forever our Princess

Wed, 27 Dec 2017 18:35:17 GMT

Drowned in moonlight,
strangled by her own bra.

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La Susurra - V/E, PG-13, Penny Dreadful

Wed, 27 Dec 2017 02:35:52 GMT

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La Susurra

She wanders the earth now, a sad shade, discarded by all her lovers. To the living she no longer exists, to the undead she no longer matters, and to the dead… well, they have departed, gone onward as she is unable, trapped now by her choice and betrayal, betrayed in turn. She seeks him, her savior, crossing oceans of time to find that lone dark flame.

"Save me," she whispers, and he looks up, the breeze sliding past his ear like the far-distant song of a wild thing. The twilight is crisp and cold as he kneels next to the fire, stirring it up anew with a dry branch. After a long moment, he turns back to the fire's crackling and pulls the metal pot off the flame, pours a cup of bitter coffee. Again the whisper, felt more than heard, and he whips his head around, trying to catch it.

Save me.

The feel of it like something soft breathing on the skin at his collar, and a scent he cannot catch tries to set off a memory he cannot allow. Whatever it was is long gone, faded back into the darkness of the past, down paths he will not tread no matter who calls him. His sin consumed everything decades ago, only silence now, and the desert.

Darkness descends even as he stares into the distance, straining to see. In the last moment between day and night, when everything is invisible but the air itself, a ripple of woven dampness flutters the air like a curtain or a shroud, and for just a moment he can feel the gaze on him, a sense of emptiness more real than presence between him and the unseen mountains.

The whisper again and a silent wail, longing spirals the air around him, and he shuts his eyes. His temples harden as he sets his jaw, and with one movement he thrusts his hand into the fire, picks up a live branch and clutches it, the pain ripping through his arm. Burn-smell roils his nostrils and he grits his teeth another three heartbeats, then lets the ember go, gasping between his teeth as he clutches his wrist with his good hand. He bows his head, trembling, the tears dripping from his clenched eyes, fighting to keep his mind on the pain and away from the breeze moving gently around him, a vanished embrace, a sigh from a love long past saving.

The moon is a thin crescent. He lets the coffee go cold and then pours it over the burn before binding it up. That night, he dreams of thunderstorms.

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Mistletoe - Z/C, NC-17

Mon, 25 Dec 2017 10:10:44 GMT

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This is for Mewsie and for aliensouldream. Your #4 prompt shows up briefly here, otherwise it's just an excuse to jump on your bandwagon. ;)

Note: I'm not sure this chapter is actually finished. But here it is for now, a Yule gift for you all.

Mistletoe

Zeke flinched as a balled-up piece of paper, impatiently thrown, hit his head. "Heads up, Buckeye," Jim barked. No, not Jim, never Jim, but that's what Zeke called him nonetheless. ( A little payback for the fucking nickname... )

Chapter 47 of High Contrast

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My mind is clearer now...

Wed, 20 Dec 2017 01:11:42 GMT

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So it looks like John Legend is going to take on the role of Jesus in the live musical of Jesus Christ Superstar. Interesting casting! They've also got Alice Cooper to play Herod, which just tickles me enormously. It looks like it'll be a good production, so I'm really looking forward to seeing it.

I wonder who they'll get for Judas?

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Wonderful Youtube channel, plus a holiday reminder

Tue, 05 Dec 2017 01:23:34 GMT

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Hi everyone!

I'd like to introduce you to a wonderful Youtube channel called Townsends. It's run by Jon Townsend, a historial re-enactor. It's all about life, and mostly food, in the 1700's. Fantastic recipes, lots of great info on life in the 18th century, and Jon, who is truly a lovely narrator: genial, gentle, enthusiastic. I've made several of the recipes and they are delicious as well as being interesting. This is a great channel for hobbit writers, as it gives you a great view of life around the time (maybe a bit before) that parallels the level of development, more or less, of the Shire. The channel has been running for about 10 years, I think, with an episode around every 1-2 weeks, so there are LOADS of things to watch! Please check it out, and please pimp the channel to other hobbity folks. I'm sure you'll like it and will want to watch it further.

Here are a couple of their vids to start your off:

Here's a recipe Sam would absolutely have known how to make:

And a recipe for the holiday table. Frodo and Bilbo would have enjoyed this at Yule!

And now, a reminder: I still have a lot of hobbity stuff on my sale page. If you're looking for gifts for hobbity friends, please take a look! And please let other people know it's there!

Enjoy!

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Antares red like a poppy

Sun, 12 Nov 2017 04:39:57 GMT

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Reposting my Veteran's Day story.

Soldier's Wife

Hope you're all well.

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Return to Middle Earth

Wed, 08 Nov 2017 21:40:09 GMT

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So what does everyone think about the news that Amazon and Warner Bros. are in talks to produce a TV series of LOTR?

Myself, I'm fine with it. The more, the merrier. Every adaptation will add to the tapestry of the story, and honestly, I want to see what other actors and filmmakers will do with the story and the characters (not the mention Middle Earth itself). I'm happy there'll be another version I can enjoy!

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