...amenquohi for being SUPER DUPER etc. awesome of awesomeness.

That is a real thing. I said so.

That is all.

Posts that help put me in perspective and show my writing style:

• Get to Know Me/The Popfiend Experience (The PxP)


• On Discussing the Issue of Race/Racism


• It was 20 years ago today...


• Talking with Pop


• Talkin' 'bout Ma


• The Toilet Seat Story


• The Name Game.


• I Believe.


• Mourning has broken.


• These 2 things I know are true.


• How I met the missus.


• On Marriage (Communication, Compassion, Compromise)


• Lisa and I: We Fit.


• My personal take on LJ Amnesty

Some of the material is dated and focuses (a lot) on my relationship with my late wife, but given that that is the defining relationship of my life and a large factor in the person I am today...

Anyway, thanks for coming by and being a part of this journey.

Peace,
- O.

We just watched the latest (I think) episode of Legend of Korra, “The Aftermath.” I’m continuing to really enjoy this show for a number of reasons.

MINOR SPOILERS AHEAD

Pacing: One of the things that bugged me was the love triangle between Korra, Mako, and Asami. It felt, not necessarily cliche, but easy. It’s an oft-repeated trope, one that could push characters into more cardboard, stereotypical roles and — if other shows are any example — drag out for far too long.

Instead, Asami’s character quickly developed more depth and conflict. The plot moved along, changing her role in the story. The conflict between Korra and Asami progressed through conflict into understanding and sympathy. I loved the quiet moment at the end where Korra tells Mako, “She’s going to need you.”

I’ve seen that pacing elsewhere, and I appreciate that the show doesn’t seem to get bogged down. There’s always a sense of movement.

Lin Beifong continues to be awesome. In many ways, I think she’s my favorite character. Partly because she’s an older woman kicking all sorts of ass. Partly because she, more than anyone else I’ve seen, seems to take full advantage of her bending abilities. The firebenders throw fire. Earthbenders throw rocks. Beifong, on the other hand, manipulates metal cables like Spider-Man, grows blades from her armor to punch through mechs, and seems to push the “What else can I do with this?” angle.

Complexity: The scene with Tahno’s character really jumped out at me. This is a character who’s introduced as a full-on asshole. He’s arrogant, he cheats, and you really wanted Korra to kick his butt in the tournament. Instead, the White Falls Wolfbats won … and thus became the targets of an Equalist attack.

In the next episode, you see Tahno without his powers, and he’s utterly broken. Korra feels for him. She knows what he lost and how close she came to losing her own bending. It was a fairly short scene, but that’s all it took.

The relationship between Tenzin and Lin Beifong is another interesting example. Their history, the contrast of their apparent discomfort with how well they work together in a crisis … I have no idea where that’s going, but I like the dynamic, and at this point I’m trusting the show not to go somewhere overly cliche with it.

While there are certainly characters who seem flat-out Evil, at least at first, I appreciate that things generally aren’t presented in a simplistic black-and-white way. Neither people nor power are simple, and this show respects that fact.

The Animation: This is a very pretty show, particularly in the way it portrays movement and the grace of the different benders. I get done watching, and other cartoons suddenly seem clunkier.

Trusting the Viewers: I was trying to figure out how to phrase this last bit, and “trust” is the closest I can come. I’ve never seen a single episode of Avatar: The Last Airbender, but it hasn’t stopped me from enjoying Korra. It doesn’t surprise me that they wanted a show that could welcome new viewers as well as old, but it struck me that there just isn’t a lot of exposition or hand-holding, period. There’s no talking down, no assuming that things will be too complicated or difficult to understand. Elements are explained as they become relevant to the story.

I know there are things I’m missing from Avatar, but I can catch up on my own, and I like that they don’t slow down the story to spoon-feed information.

In Conclusion: Okay, I get it. I’m officially a fan, and I have added Avatar: TLA to my list of things to catch up on (when I find the time).

Mirrored from Jim C. Hines.

The week that Lisa passed aside from being the worst week of my life was also probably the busiest. I had to manage all of the arrangements and make sure that it was all taken care of. I had some help, but 90% of it was me.

It was important to me for a variety of reasons, not the least if which was that I'm her husband. I signed on for this when we said our vows just like she did if the situation was reversed. And I know she would have done as much (probably more) and worked even harder to make it all work as was her way.

One of the things I did at the time was, I wrote her obituary which was handed out at the funeral. I didn't think anything of it other than about doing it right, as again...it's my job. No matter what, I take care of her. Through to the end...and beyond.

Now I told you that to tell you this... (haven't used phrase that in a while, I figured I'd pull it out as a reminder that I'm still in here somewhere)

When I first started seeing my therapist she asked did I have a picture of Lisa. Lisa and I never carried wallet sized pics on us, we had pics on our work desks and at home, but we never carried pics around. Just wasn't our style and for Lisa, she was very private. I neglected to bring a picture to my 2nd session, but for my 3rd session I brought a few pictures and the obituary.

My therapist remarked that my words were "beautiful" and I mentioned the whole "It's my job thing."

But she also mentioned that I wrote the whole thing in the midst of profound grief and emotional trauma.

The other day I wrote about "spoon theory" applied to my current state.

And I've been realizing more and more since my therapy appointment that my "spoons" have disproportionately been spent on keeping myself "motivated" and keeping forward.

Because there are things to be done and life hasn't stopped. So I've been focused on the work of life, but not the work of actually living.

Anyway, I just wanted to note this and let you know that if I seem curt or perfunctory it's a function of this and not anything else.

I'll be working on this for a while, but I will be working on it.

That's my new job. Well at least a part of it.

Thanks for listening.

Peace,
- O.

Look who's finished!

And look who's on eBay!

I'd really appreciate any signal boosting you wanted to do for this one.



I did decide to curl her hair! The uneven and kind of messy look is all right, I think, in the context of a wild rose pony. I am not 100% sure I prefer it to the straight hair, but I'm leaving it as it is. If the person who winds up with her reeeally wants to straighten it, they can do so, and I'll tell them how (not responsible for results, but it shouldn't hurt her).

( You SO need to see all of these pics. )



The silver around her eyes is so pretty.

So, I learned a lot from her, and I look forward to putting all that learning into play on my next pony.

And, again, because clearly I haven't linked it enough, eBay! Yes, bidding is starting high. There's actually fifteen dollars' worth of hair there all by itself. Not to mention the OMG hours of work. So bid freely!

Questions? Ask 'em!

X-posted from Dreamwidth. Comment count: