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December 4th, 2009
09:02 pm - Russia: Just as Weird as Japan
Watching a musical version of the Three Musketeers. From Russia. With crazy costumes and hair (sadly, they seem to have only been able to afford cheap fabric). Oh, and Cardinal Richelieu is in love with D'Artanan. She, Porthos, Aramis and Athos are women. It really needs to be seen to be believed.
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December 3rd, 2009
09:02 pm - As Earwormy as the Original
A surprisingly hot typeface parody of Lady Gaga's Poker Face. Beards + bowties + bad sexy dancing = amused me.
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November 30th, 2009
03:09 pm - WisCon Brainstorming
I'm in the early stages of thinking about submitting a panel for WisCon. Like a lot of my panel ideas, the original idea is because I read a couple of books in a row with a similar character, and I want to compare/contrast them. Not sure I've got the chops enough to make it interesting.
I've read three books in a row with an older female vet as the protagonist. All drummed out of the service, and slightly bitter about it. This got me thinking about other books with female vets main characters, and I'm trying to think about what they say as a group.
List so far (Character - Author - Book)
Herris Serrano - Elizabeth Moon - Hunting Party, Sporting Chance, Winning Colors
Ariane Kadros - Laura Reeve - Peacekeeper
Lacey - Katherine Kerr - Polar City Blues
Bet Yeager - C. J. Cherryh - Rimrunners
Jani Kilian - Kristine Smith - Code of Conduct to Endgame
Jenny Casey - Elizabeth Bear - Hammered, Scardown and Worldwired
Cordelia Naismith - Lois McMaster Bujold - Barrayar
Cordelia is the only mother of the group, though Jenny ends up with stepchildren. Jenny and Jani (lot of parallels in those two series) start off both hiding from their military, dealing with physical damage of their service. Hmm...
One area of discussion would be that having a veteran allows you to have an older female character without a family. Several of these books are about making some sort of family of choice.
Input? Other characters I'm not thinking of (any from movies/TV)?
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November 25th, 2009
03:08 pm - Navel Gazing
Just found a new aspect of appearance that is part of my self image that I didn't realize was important until now.
I got my hair cut on Monday, but it didn't fix the issue (old bangs just slightly shorter than rest of hair). So I put on my big girl pants and called to see if I could get a touch up. Thankfully, I've been going to the same place enough to be recognized and my stylist believes in repeat customers and I got scheduled in for this afternoon. Shop was quiet. She asked if she could straighten my hair with the the flat iron instead of washing it. I'm always up for an experiment, especially if it is not permanent. So today I have straight hair.
And it's weird. I kind of like it. Not enough to get a flat iron, but maybe enough to ask for it whenever I get my hair cut.
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November 24th, 2009
11:35 am - Rant Brewing
Though I might get it out of my system before I actually post all of it. But I'm starting to get annoyed with the repair people who come over and ignore me. Yes, my husband called them about the problem and is the one who has been trying to fix it thus far, but they're in my house fixing my sink and could at least tell me what the fuck they're doing! I suspect there is a mite bit of sexism going on.
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11:18 am - Still Digesting
Interesting story about Heifer International in Nepal. Straightforward yet shades of poverty, class, and age.
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November 20th, 2009
07:55 pm - Why I Usually Watch PBS
Local news ad about was about overdraft fees. Like if you use your debit card without money in the account they can charge you. Just like if it was a check.
Big news, isn't it.
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November 14th, 2009
05:24 pm - Slow Cooker Butter Chicken
~1 cup uncooked cashews
2 tsp curry
2.5 tsp coriander seeds
.5 tsp chili powder
Fry in pan until starts smoking. Remove into bowl
8 chicken legs
Brown in same pan. Put into crock. Pour cashew mix over chicken.
1/4 c butter
2 tsp paprika
1 tsp dried ginger
3 tsp garlic in a jar
pinch of cinnamon and cardamon
1 small onion
3/4 water
1 vegetable bullion cube
1 small can tomato paste
1/2 c sour cream
1 can evaporated milk
1 tsp vinegar
1 tsp Rooster hot Thai sauce
1/2 tsp salt
Melt butter, cut onion into small bits. Add all ingredients to crock, roughly in order of of the recipe. Stir. Leave in fridge overnight to marinate. Put into crockpot base and heat on low for about 8 hours. Serve over rice.
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November 10th, 2009
10:46 am - Book Statistics
I was reading yet another discussion about gender bias of which authors you read, when I realize that due to my cataloging habit, I might actually be able to get numbers on my own buying patterns. I hopped over to my library thing page (not updated with my last several months' purchases, but includes most of my collection) to see if I could get numbers.
My first thought was to look at which authors I had the most of. Can't figure out how to do that yet (though I suspect Marion Zimmer Bradley is high on the list), but I found a widget called male or female. My collection includes roughly 181 male authors and 219 female authors (with about 25 as groups, disputed or unknown). Hmm...
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November 7th, 2009
12:08 pm - Rakes: Eviler than Vacuums
At least according to Bearcat. Lawnchair is celebrating the nice weather by dealing the fall leaves (apparently multiple maples + large oak = lots). He's planning on cheating by mowing most of it, but the corners are being raked and hauled to the compost pile.
Yesterday's dye project is hanging on the line, and looks wonderful (will post pictures later if I remember). My wrists look jaundiced while my fingers have a tan.
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November 6th, 2009
02:22 pm - No Clear Theme
I'm enjoying the beautiful weather. I biked downtown for some weaving and dyeing supplies (don't have the colors necessary) this morning. Now I'm playing some more with resist dyeing on more mop cotton. This skein is going through three dye baths for a total of three colors (hopefully). We'll see how it turns out.
One of my favorite old profs died this week. Dr. Shaffer was my Econ 101 prof my freshman year (as he was for generations of KU students). He was still teaching as of last year. What a life, what a nice man.
Like a lot of people, I'm still processing the Fort Hood shooting. I'm avoiding US TV news, especially FOX. The bigotry is out in force, from what I hear. I am trying to read about people on the other side of the gun. Gladdened to hear that soldiers rushed to help their injured comrades. The police officer that brought down the shooter was a woman.
Cats have settled in the sunlight. I opened the curtains on the picture window, and it lets enough for them all to fit. Bear's found the t-shirt I wore biking this morning, and is using it as a pillow. Silly cat.
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November 3rd, 2009
09:52 pm - Buffy vs. Edward
So some of you missed this.
From the video maker: In this re-imagined narrative, Edward Cullen from the Twilight Series meets Buffy the Vampire Slayer. It's an example of transformative storytelling serving as a pro-feminist visual critique of Edward's character and generally creepy behavior. Seen through Buffy's eyes, some of the more sexist gender roles and patriarchal Hollywood themes embedded in the Twilight saga are exposed - in hilarious ways. Ultimately this remix is about more than a decisive showdown between the slayer and the sparkly vampire. It also doubles as a metaphor for the ongoing battle between two opposing visions of gender roles in the 21ist century.
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04:35 pm - Further Zombie Cat Update
She's still fine. She's finally close to eating as much as she should be (a can a day), and is chasing her sister across the house. Far cry from where she was at the end of summer. Still no idea what set her off, but seems to be over.
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October 26th, 2009
05:24 pm - Solution to Bra Problem
So I complained to my mother about finding bras in my new size - and she had a solution. hanesoneplace.com has Bali and Playtex bras in all sorts of sizes, averaging $20 or so. Woot - just go look at bras at a store and figure out what style isn't obnoxious.
Then I got a call this afternoon to tell me that the car wouldn't be done today because they sent the wrong parts to the repair shop. I called Lawnchair to head off his bus ride out to the shop (since campus has the best bus service it was easiest for him to drop it off on his way to work), but called to late. I headed out in the truck to pick him up from World Market (the next stop from where I called him, also first time driving since Wednesday and did not wreck). Decided to bop into TJ Maxx's to check out their bra selection. The only 34DD's I found were hideous (yellow lace with glitter), but found 3 bras sized 34D I liked, each for $10. Score. One's green. All fit.
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October 23rd, 2009
08:13 pm - Needs a Name
Latest random cocktail - mid grade sake (Gekkeikan Haiku) and ancient Creme de Noya. Almond Blossom? Saumari Who Smells of Almonds? What is the Japanese word for almond?
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October 22nd, 2009
10:54 am - Minor Grr - Loom
Brake isn't holding the thread bar tight. I suspect fixing will involve cleaning and locktight.
ETA: JB Weld. Tomorrow I test to see how well it holds.
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October 21st, 2009
07:54 pm - First Thing First : I am Fine
Car is mostly fine. Insurance will go up (I was at fault), but otherwise getting off fairly affordably (hopefully car is as fine as it looks). Now maybe you all will take me seriously when I say I'm a crappy driver.
Also, teeth are clean and dentist office is nice even though they want me to visit them again.
Day can start getting better now.
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October 19th, 2009
10:19 pm - Travel Sick
Travel show about Slovenia is making me miss it.
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October 18th, 2009
01:46 pm - Fat Went to My Boobs
Finally admitted that my bras just don't fit any more. As I was planning on going to the fancy mall already for more skin grease (massage bars from LUSH), I decided to try a bra fitting at Nordstroms. Late Sunday morning is apparently a good time for this, because I got quick, eager service. I think the fitting lady was bored. Which is good, because I hate asking for help with things that I think I should have figured out before my late twenties.
First she measured my band size. 34, same as my old bras. I haven't worried much about bras in my life. I wore primarily sports bras up until college, and went back to mostly sports bras while in the navy. For the last couple of years, I've mostly been wearing tank tops with shelf support as my under layer. When I try to wear my bras, not much is covered. The fitter asked what I size I currently wore/owned, and I said B. She looked a bit shocked, and warned me that she suspected I was now at D. She brought back a couple of bras to try on, and the DD fit the best. Yep - B to DD. I guess not all my fat went to my belly.
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October 14th, 2009
02:24 pm - Current Displacement Activity
Cooking. Made stock yesterday, and pot pie today. I still have enough stock and meat left over for chicken dumpling soup, so I froze it. Resisted urge to cook scalloped corn to go with the chili in the fridge. Added a crockpot community to my LJ FL, which has all sorts of tempting recipes.
Heirloom is all strung up and ready to weave on. It looks so pretty I'm scared to mess it up. Also started rereading a favorite series in anticipation of the last book finally being released next month.
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