sundries

[rm]

I bought some plane tickets and now I feel better. For Dragon*Con I'm flying Delta in ATL on the night of Sep 2, and back out on the afternoon of Sep 6.

For Bristol, I'm flying Virgin Atlantic in to LHR arriving the morning of Jul 8 and leaving the evening of Jul 12. That ticket cost me a small fortune, but the good news is it gives me enough miles to get a discounted fare to the UK in the fall, which means going to see Patty in Cardiff shouldn't cost me more than $500. Weirdly the fare was cheaper on Orbitz than directly on the Virgin site, and tragically the seat options were really crap -- I'm behind the wing. But at least I'm on the aisle. Also a bit crap? In and out of Newark, but it seems if I reserve car service in advance through Orbitz it's pretty cheap compared to doing it on my own, and anything is better than three hours in the Supershuttle with the Real Housewives of Orange County. I've not even begun to figure out hotels for the trip, as I sort of know nothing beyond what nights I'll be in Bristol. I suppose I can start there. Wow, I really hope I get that grant; it won't cover much, but it'll help.

Soon we'll need to get our Chicago fares too. And once we know when Patty's going home to Ohio it's time to plan Beach Weekend!

Yesterday Patty and I had a great day, that involved stumbling on the Dance Parade while we were down at teh farmers market. I got to tell Patty about it's origin in protest to NYC's weird cabaret licensing laws while we got to see a hugely diverse mix of stuff. It awed me that dance schools from far away came in to participate and it moved me a bit too.

Growing up here I went to serious dance schools because they were available. For people who are serious about dance in other places, the options are often ridiculous and are never going to help them do what they fantasize about doing, but it's still pretty cool. Dance is one of the least appreciated and funded of the arts (a full-time professional actor makes money; a full-time professional dancer is still living below the poverty line in most cases). Dance Parade is an awesome thing.

The debsliverlovers auctions end TONIGHT. There's still work from Thomas Canty at only $200 and from Colleen Doran at only $50.

sparkindarkness talks about some 'oh no, gay people in sports' drama and pretty much says everything that needs to be said. I will also add, however, that fear of people perceiving queerness about me was one thing that made sports terrifying as a kid; in dance it mattered less, but it made me shy away from ballet, as it's only for beautiful girls and queer = not beautiful in the land of children. Also, no, being a queer woman doing sports is not more acceptable. Granted, fencing is its own ball of wacky gendered adventures, but it did not make things pleasant. I should post a fencing update soon shouldn't I? It'll be largely a non-update, but you know, thinky thoughts.

For those of you who may have been following the saga of Thundercats writer Steve Perry, it's taken a grim turn. Many people have reacted strongly to Perry's please for financial help for him and his son -- some by donating, some by calling it a scam due to the tonal quality of Perry's missives.

While all of us have been effectively on the outside of this situation, there is little doubt that Perry has needed help in a manner that has probably included financial support and liaisons to a number of social services. Money has been solely the only problem here. Everyone is hoping, of course, that Perry is still alive, although I don't know that anyone is optimistic about it at this point.

With the police involved at this awful turn of events, it seems likely we'll all know more of the truth soon. But I think it's worth noting here and now that money can't solve everything and that even people who ask for money in ungainly ways or have a terrible time implementing the aid they do receive still can and do need our help all the time.

A completely surreal profile of Mark Heller, Esq.: "His hunched shoulders and slight limp suggest a laborer joylessly shuffling toward the morning whistle — except it is 6:30 p.m. and he is wearing French cuffs."

On Fraught.

Being as it's Sunday morning there's not much news in the world beyond GDL got a haircut. GDL got a haircut. Thumbs up.

But! More Buffy and Angel last night. Cordelia is now part demon and floats. Boreanaz should not be asked to play crazy in that particular way; he's bad at it. One-armed Wesley broke my heart. Love that Skip is back. Sort of off-put by everyone's relationship interest in Fred. Gunn seems to be into her because she's there to be into and Wesley's interest, although somewhat sweeter seeming, is actually creeptastic when we consider his thing for Cordy (when she was still in high school) and his recent girlfriend (the supposedly virginal creature that he rescued). I don't know. I feel like everyone in this show has huge issues, and because they know one or two of them they think that eliminates the rest of them.

Over on Buffy we now know that there's a Pet Cemetery factor going on with Buffy, which we sort of knew anyway, but wasn't too disturbing until Spike said "you came back wrong!" Meanwhile, I still love the Buffy/Spike thing, although I think Spike's emotional states are too mercurial for cogent narrative at time. And, despite the fact that Spike is sort of a creepy, wannabe abusive asshole, Buffy's also behaving very, very badly. And that's before anyone hits anyone.

Meanwhile, Willow and the heavy-handed incoherent drug allegory plotline of doom, that's really only enjoyable for the fact that they went there? REALLY? It's not a good thing when a show like Buffy needs to be more subtle, but it needs to be more subtle.

Also? I still find Anya'a progress towards blond INCREDIBLY distracting.

Comments

[maudelynn.livejournal.com]

I just booked a flight on Virgin America the other day! I usually take BA to London, as I cannot seem to get a direct flight on Virgin from Seattle (and the miles I have assure me first class upgrades for a good while) but am excite to try the American flights. Matt swears by Virgin. LOVES it.

I want to go to Dcon this Year, but Alas, I think I missed out on getting a room. Boo.

[rm.livejournal.com]

There's a room waiting list that usually comes through for everyone, FYI.

I'm hoping VA is less incompetent about gluten-free than Delta which put croutons in my salad. I always fly Virgina America when I go to the West Coast and also swear by it, so I'm hoping this will be as good.

[maudelynn.livejournal.com]

Oh, goodness, I hope they are better at that, too.
I really don't care for Delta, but last I checked, they were the only straight through flight to Atlanta from here.

I love the Main Cabin Select on VA for the designated carry on bin, free checked bags and free food features already!!
That makes me very happy as I can get all my stuff in a carry on for 5 days in LA. 10 wispy, LA weather dresses and 3 sweaters will do me fine! It is the shoes that cause me grief, but if I plan right, I can find 3 pairs that match everything... but that NEVER happens sooo the free checked bag option is a BONUS!!

I am sure you were dying to know all about my packing habits, weren't you?

I will keep an eye on the room thing. I am sort of picky and stuff about my room. It has to be a king, lower floor, Mariott room.

[ladyaelfwynn.livejournal.com]

I totally hated the Willow magic addiction thing. It was so heavy-handed. Argh.

[brightlotusmoon.livejournal.com]

Ditto. I'm a magic practitioner* myself, and as I was watching those episodes, I kept stammering "But it... but... it's not like... no, but... you... NO."

*Pagan, witch, bisexual, shy bookwormy nerd whose nickname is the Italian translation of Little Volcano. I wanted to slap Joss for a while, but in the end I just felt neutral.

[dulcinbradbury.livejournal.com]

I'm currently watching season 6 for the first time too.

And... yep, heavy-handed drug allegory (particularly with something as double-edged as Buffyverse magic). Buffy's behaving badly with the whole Spike thing.

But I also think Giles fucked up in these most recent episodes. "Gee, someone I care about as if she were my own daughter is suicidally depressed, her personal life has blown to hell, and is not only dealing with adult problems for the first time, but is getting ALL of them at once... I think I'll fly off & leave her to deal on her own."

I realize Buffy is life as a horror movie & all... but most people do not jump fully into unemployment, depression, owning a house, dealing with your friends fucked-up life choices, and being a single mom to a teenager all at the same time for the first time in their life. (And when something like that DOES happen, it's considered tragic & horrifying rather than "well, suck it up. You have to deal with being a grown-up.") While I understand why Giles didn't want her to foist off Dawn's discipline on him, I think flying away was a bit extreme.

[matthewwdaly.livejournal.com]

I think that Season Six is the time when you have to stop blaming Buffy and Spike and Willow and Giles and Anya's hair for making such awful decisions and shift to blaming the people behind the camera. Or you can skip ahead from "Tabula Rasa" to "Seeing Red", safe in the knowledge that you've only missed one thing of consequence and only one episode that was remotely enjoyable.

[smirnoffmule.livejournal.com]

To be fair, there is an out-of-universe reason for Giles leaving, and not one they could do much about except try and find a reason for - IIRC it was Anthony Head's own desire to step back from being a full time cast member.

[sevendayloan.livejournal.com]

Anya's hair is one of my favourite parts of season six and seven. Trufax. Try to guess what colour it'll be in the next episode; it'll keep you on your toes.

[smirnoffmule.livejournal.com]

Heh, Anya is one of my favourite parts of season six and seven, without qualification. I love her with all my heart. Oh, and also the little red dress in Once More With Feeling. OMG.

[sevendayloan.livejournal.com]

My favourite little ex-demon*! She's amazing, and Emma Caulfield is completely brilliant playing her. There aren't very many characters who manage to be comic relief and utterly heartbreaking at the same time, and Anya just rocks it. AND THAT DRESS WAS GORGEOUS!

* slash, character on the show [is an Anya fan]

[smirnoffmule.livejournal.com]

Isn't she? :D I adore Emma Caulfield, she so nails every nuance of Anya. Say what you like about Joss, but he has a knack for knowing what to give to an actor to really show their true form (omg Selfless). And she's always so funny in interviews &hearts

[sevendayloan.livejournal.com]

Selfless was so amazing. And I know I'm biased here, but I think it was one of the best episodes of season seven. (This coming from someone who loved the last seasons) Joss is pretty cool that way.

Did you know that Emma is going to be in a new Rom-Com that's coming out soon. TiMER, I think it's called. Anyway, Kali Rocha is in it too, which means I'm probably going to spend the whole time going, "Omg, Anya and Hallie!" xD

[laughingacademy.livejournal.com]

"The pain, the pain...is gone." I love how much anger and anticipatory glee is packed into that moment.

For some reason, Buffy tends to fall on its face when dealing with drugs or drink. Remember "Beer Bad"? Even if that ep was written in a cynical attempt to score funds from the Office of National Drug Control Policy, or as a parody of a Very Special Anti-Drinking Episode, it could have been better than that.

[gement.livejournal.com]

Okay, I actually loved Beer Bad. It struck me as everyone having a lot of fun, making it cheerfully over the top for me rather than "oh god why do I have to say this line" over the top. The caricatures of arrogant psych major predators had me giggling for minutes. But mileage varies.

[gement.livejournal.com]

Double-loading lesbianism and anvilicious drug abuse onto the same symbol is TVTropes.com's flagship example of Metaphor Fail.

[kel-reiley.livejournal.com]

the 'magic = drug addiction' plotline bugged the FUCK out of me... but probably mostly b/c i knew ppl, around that time, who were addicts :(

anya's ever-changing hairstyles is one of my favorite things ever and i want someone (not me) to do an 'anya's hairstyles' picspam

[elisi]

Sort of off-put by everyone's relationship interest in Fred
As far as I know, everyone dislikes that particular plot line.

I don't know. I feel like everyone in this show has huge issues, and because they know one or two of them they think that eliminates the rest of them.
You're not wrong.

And, despite the fact that Spike is sort of a creepy, wannabe abusive asshole, Buffy's also behaving very, very badly. And that's before anyone hits anyone.
WELCOME TO S6 SPUFFY! (Or, just 'welcome to S6'. Life is The Big Bad. Everyone screws up.) Don't try to work out whose fault the mess is, because it'll give you a headache and you'll never get a satisfactory answer. [This is why I love it.]

Meanwhile, Willow and the heavy-handed incoherent drug allegory plotline of doom, that's really only enjoyable for the fact that they went there? REALLY?
Ah yes. That. The only way to cope with that is to notice the fact that while everyone is going 'Drugs are Magic's baaaad, m'kay?' magic was never the problem - Willow's behaviour was, and she utterly fails to deal with/take responsibility for that. (I'm not saying that this is what the writers were doing, but it's a reading that works and will stop you from throwing things at the TV.)

And GDL got a haircut? Ooooh, must go look that up! :)

[rm.livejournal.com]

Haircut: http://twitpic.com/1qctat

[elisi]

Ooooh thank you! :)

[chris-walsh.livejournal.com]

?Quien es GDL? "Guadalajara International Airport" is probably not the answer, Google notwithstanding...

[rm.livejournal.com]

Gareth David-Lloyd, the actor who played Ianto on Torchwood.

[chris-walsh.livejournal.com]

Thanks for teachifying this n00b. My only views of Torchwood stuff are a COE promo and one minute of "blowfish in a sports car." :-)

[logospilgrim.livejournal.com]

~I should post a fencing update soon shouldn't I?~

I saw scenes from a film that featured fencing not too long ago, and thought of you... Those posts about your fencing experiences are fascinating.

[bodlon.livejournal.com]

I will not try to go to D*C. I will not try to go to D*C...

The Steve Perry thing has officially transcended 2005 levels of crazy in my skull. Breathing good. Also, ice cream.

[rm.livejournal.com]

Does it change anything if I'm able to change the paperwork such that your my guest this year since Patty isn't coming?

[bodlon.livejournal.com]

It's genuinely too early to know. I've got some stuff in the works that I'm paying off, and it's going to be an interesting summer. I'd say if you can give it to someone you know is attending, do that.

[anotheranon.livejournal.com]

I'd love to read a fencing update from you - are you still fencing?

I'd also be very interested to see a queer/gender unpack of the fencing scene from your perspective - I have thoughts but can't hammer them into anything verbal.

[chaos-by-design.livejournal.com]

I much preferred Anya as a brunette.

Spike and Buffy's relationship gets really fucked up and unhealthy and while she certainly didn't treat him well, she was always pretty honest with him about what he could expect from her, which gets lost in a lot of how fandom sees her. I always felt like a lot of people judged her too harshly in her relationship with him. She did some bad stuff, but I always wondered why he stood around and took it.

I didn't like the role Fred seemed to play on Angel, which was to tear apart a really interesting friendship between Gunn and Wesley, because apparently the only role a woman can play is love interest. Bah.