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shadowkatAnyone else feeling inundated by holiday commercials? Probably doesn't help that I work across the street from Bryant Park which has a holiday shop fair going on. Or that a harpist is playing Xmas tunes in the lobby. But seriously, everywhere I go it's Hanukka and Xmas stuff. Not that I mind so much, sort of just letting the whole thing wash over me like a wave on a beach or a wind, paying little attention. Sooner or later it will hit me like a ton of bricks, probably the weekend I fly down to celebrate with my folks, then rapidly fly back again.
Did do the Xmas buying thing for Cedar (my 9 month old niece). Got a tad carried away and am now second guessing myself. I bought *cough*8*cough*
books. They are all books that were read to me or I looked through as a child and adored. My first friends. Here's the list:
1. Richard Scarey's What People Do All Day.
2. Dr. Suess's The Cat in the Hat
3. Dr. Seuss's Horton Hears a Who
4. Dr. Seuss's Green Eggs and Ham
5. The Snowy Day by Ezra Jack Keats
6. Where The Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak
7. The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein (complete with CD with Shel reading it)
8. The House at Pooh Corner by A. A. Milne
Ack. Shoot me now. She's only 9 months old. Most of these are too old for her.
Some people lose it in baby stores, DVD stores, and clothing stores. Me? It's books. Always has been, always will be.
Oh finished the S1 Buffy DVDs and guess what my favorite episodes were?
1. Never Kill A Boy on The First Date
2. I Robot You Jane
3. Teacher's Pet
4. Out of Sight Out of Mind.
Everyone else's least favorite. LMAO! This amuses me to no end.
Also surprised me in a pleasant way. I expected to enjoy Nightmares, Prophecy Girl, The Pack, Angel, Welcome to The Hellmouth or Harvest more. I suspect it may be that I've seen Nightmares etc - more times? Or maybe they are just more plot heavy, less humor, less quirky character moments? Oh I enjoyed them, don't misunderstand me. Just not nearly as much. Interesting.
Weird the things you notice after not seeing something for a long time.
I noticed how each of these characters is pursued by their love interests (for good or ill). How Xander and Buffy really both do go for looks and physical attributes, and more or less get exactly what they asked for because of it. While Willow goes for more spiritual/mental things. And how much Xander pretty much brought every humilation and ill on to himself. You find yourself sort of liking the guy in spite of himself. Same with Cordelia. I don't remember enjoying Cordy this much or liking her this much before. Also, is it just me, or is Nicholas Brendon just a little too attractive for this role? He is as good-looking as Angel actually. If not more so in some episodes. Oh, wardrobe tries to dress him down, but it doesn't quite work. Works better actually with Willow. Also, I found it incredibly amusing that Xander, not Willow, notices how hot and dreamy Angel is. And comments on it. LOL!
Out of Sight/Out of Mind - the episode with the Invisible Girl is actually one of my favorite episodes. It so deftly describes what it is like to slip between the cracks in high school, to be invisible. It also does an amazing job of developing Cordelia. Who is perhaps the most doomed of the foursome and the loneliest. She's so focused on herself, so worried about how others see and percieve her, that she can't connect to anyone. Her story is so ironic, yet so true. What's interesting is Buffy's realization that if it weren't for becoming the slayer, she would be Cordelia. That she and Cordy aren't that far apart actually. But then none of us are. We all are a little self-absorbed.
Not seeing anyone or anything that doesn't pertain to us. What's interesting is
on ATS, Cordelia is cursed with the Visions, the ability to literally feel total strangers pain and anguish. She is also forced to face a woman, who she may have become if it weren't for Buffy, Angel, her father losing his money and what happened to her - Lilah. And she does choose in Birthday, interestingly enough, to take the Visions, not to live the life of the star - isolated, like she had in high school. Yet, this being a horror series, her insecurities doom her - she still falls into the trap of wanting to be the most popular girl, the best girl, the chosen one instead of choosing love
or people, she chooses isolation - the higher being. Above everyone else, like in high school, a lonely fate. Cordy in my mind always seemed to be Angel's female counterpart, just as Willow seems to be Spike's. Both are people who were popular, who were beautiful, but it isolated them. They chatted, conversed with others, seemed to have many friends, yet no true ones.
Out of Sight Out of Mind is one of the few episodes I've seen on TV that shows that weird feeling of being alone amongst people or alleged friends. There's also an excellent scene, possibly amongst the best in the series, between Angel and Giles - where Angel tells Giles that being invisible isn't so hot and we get a little insight into who Angel is and how lonely. What attracts him to both Cordy and Buffy - I think - is that feeling of detachment of being alone, apart. (Plus one of Clea Duvell (of Boston Public and The Grudge) early roles. She played the teacher.)
I know there are people online and probably on my friends list who dislike this episode and they have their reasons (all of which I've read and they make some excellent points), but when it comes right down to it - I think whether you like or dislike, enjoy or not enjoy something - has so much to do with who you are and what you are going through. In the end, art is a subjective experience.
Speaking of episodes people hate: Teacher's Pet - what a hilarous episode. I enjoyed Xander more here than in Prophecy Girl. And the clawed Vampire bit made me laugh. Also nice cameo by Melinda Clark (currently on the OC, yes that was where we'd seen her before, been trying to figure it out for ages.) Each character is used. We get Cordy. We get Angel. We get Giles. We get Willow.
We get Buffy. And the poor fellow virigin, Blain, who looks very similar to Kevin in Out of Sight. But maybe that's just me. One of my favorite scenes in this is Giles trying to describe etmology mythology to Buffy and Willow. I also adored the references to sirens, celtic mythology and the whole conversation Giles has with his old, somewhat crazy colleague over the phone.
Xander's character gets developed a bit more here - establishing what a complete nit-wit he can be, yet a charming and courageous one. You like Xander in spite of himself in this episode. The other part of the episode that I enjoyed - was how they melded the information on Praymantises with the Monster, using the metaphor of losing one's head over how a girl looks. And the whole idea of being pursued, predatory female - which Xander is very attracted to. It's why he goes for Buffy and not Willow, Buffy is super-strong and more predatory, she can beat him up. But she isn't predatory, she doesn't pursue. Cordelia is more of a pursuer, as is Anya - both predatory females.
Out of Sight also uses scholarly information or literature - the story of Shylock. Of the episodes in S1, only two really seem to do this: Out of Sight and Teacher's Pet. Although Never Kill mentions Emily Dickenson - the literary analogy is more vague.
Overall? S1 DVD is good, not great. The episodes are the same quality as on my tapes. Not as crystal as in later DVDs. The featurettes? Skippable. With possible exception of the Welcome to The Hellmouth/Harvest commentary. Not much there. I doubt I'll buy it. I might get the Compete Buffy DVD. But I won't buy S1 separately. Also, I despise the packaging. Gellar looks like she was photographed for the cover of "Barely Legal" or "Penthouse" not a tv show.
Will say she's prettier in S1 than S7 and oddly bustier. Does anyone else find it odd that a 17 year old has a bigger bust than the 28 year old version?
Hmmm..it's 1:33am, I'm tired. Finally coming down from that piece of chocolat I had at ten am this morning, or yesterday morning called "Pocket Coffee" - it's chocolat with a pocket of black coffee in the center...and apparently my body is allergic to coffee. It makes me wired. For me, one thimble, which is what this was, is the equivalent of 20 cups for most people. And it's just coffee. Chocolat, fine. Tea, fine. Coffee...ugh. So not sure the words above made a heck of a lot of sense.
Did do the Xmas buying thing for Cedar (my 9 month old niece). Got a tad carried away and am now second guessing myself. I bought *cough*8*cough*
books. They are all books that were read to me or I looked through as a child and adored. My first friends. Here's the list:
1. Richard Scarey's What People Do All Day.
2. Dr. Suess's The Cat in the Hat
3. Dr. Seuss's Horton Hears a Who
4. Dr. Seuss's Green Eggs and Ham
5. The Snowy Day by Ezra Jack Keats
6. Where The Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak
7. The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein (complete with CD with Shel reading it)
8. The House at Pooh Corner by A. A. Milne
Ack. Shoot me now. She's only 9 months old. Most of these are too old for her.
Some people lose it in baby stores, DVD stores, and clothing stores. Me? It's books. Always has been, always will be.
Oh finished the S1 Buffy DVDs and guess what my favorite episodes were?
1. Never Kill A Boy on The First Date
2. I Robot You Jane
3. Teacher's Pet
4. Out of Sight Out of Mind.
Everyone else's least favorite. LMAO! This amuses me to no end.
Also surprised me in a pleasant way. I expected to enjoy Nightmares, Prophecy Girl, The Pack, Angel, Welcome to The Hellmouth or Harvest more. I suspect it may be that I've seen Nightmares etc - more times? Or maybe they are just more plot heavy, less humor, less quirky character moments? Oh I enjoyed them, don't misunderstand me. Just not nearly as much. Interesting.
Weird the things you notice after not seeing something for a long time.
I noticed how each of these characters is pursued by their love interests (for good or ill). How Xander and Buffy really both do go for looks and physical attributes, and more or less get exactly what they asked for because of it. While Willow goes for more spiritual/mental things. And how much Xander pretty much brought every humilation and ill on to himself. You find yourself sort of liking the guy in spite of himself. Same with Cordelia. I don't remember enjoying Cordy this much or liking her this much before. Also, is it just me, or is Nicholas Brendon just a little too attractive for this role? He is as good-looking as Angel actually. If not more so in some episodes. Oh, wardrobe tries to dress him down, but it doesn't quite work. Works better actually with Willow. Also, I found it incredibly amusing that Xander, not Willow, notices how hot and dreamy Angel is. And comments on it. LOL!
Out of Sight/Out of Mind - the episode with the Invisible Girl is actually one of my favorite episodes. It so deftly describes what it is like to slip between the cracks in high school, to be invisible. It also does an amazing job of developing Cordelia. Who is perhaps the most doomed of the foursome and the loneliest. She's so focused on herself, so worried about how others see and percieve her, that she can't connect to anyone. Her story is so ironic, yet so true. What's interesting is Buffy's realization that if it weren't for becoming the slayer, she would be Cordelia. That she and Cordy aren't that far apart actually. But then none of us are. We all are a little self-absorbed.
Not seeing anyone or anything that doesn't pertain to us. What's interesting is
on ATS, Cordelia is cursed with the Visions, the ability to literally feel total strangers pain and anguish. She is also forced to face a woman, who she may have become if it weren't for Buffy, Angel, her father losing his money and what happened to her - Lilah. And she does choose in Birthday, interestingly enough, to take the Visions, not to live the life of the star - isolated, like she had in high school. Yet, this being a horror series, her insecurities doom her - she still falls into the trap of wanting to be the most popular girl, the best girl, the chosen one instead of choosing love
or people, she chooses isolation - the higher being. Above everyone else, like in high school, a lonely fate. Cordy in my mind always seemed to be Angel's female counterpart, just as Willow seems to be Spike's. Both are people who were popular, who were beautiful, but it isolated them. They chatted, conversed with others, seemed to have many friends, yet no true ones.
Out of Sight Out of Mind is one of the few episodes I've seen on TV that shows that weird feeling of being alone amongst people or alleged friends. There's also an excellent scene, possibly amongst the best in the series, between Angel and Giles - where Angel tells Giles that being invisible isn't so hot and we get a little insight into who Angel is and how lonely. What attracts him to both Cordy and Buffy - I think - is that feeling of detachment of being alone, apart. (Plus one of Clea Duvell (of Boston Public and The Grudge) early roles. She played the teacher.)
I know there are people online and probably on my friends list who dislike this episode and they have their reasons (all of which I've read and they make some excellent points), but when it comes right down to it - I think whether you like or dislike, enjoy or not enjoy something - has so much to do with who you are and what you are going through. In the end, art is a subjective experience.
Speaking of episodes people hate: Teacher's Pet - what a hilarous episode. I enjoyed Xander more here than in Prophecy Girl. And the clawed Vampire bit made me laugh. Also nice cameo by Melinda Clark (currently on the OC, yes that was where we'd seen her before, been trying to figure it out for ages.) Each character is used. We get Cordy. We get Angel. We get Giles. We get Willow.
We get Buffy. And the poor fellow virigin, Blain, who looks very similar to Kevin in Out of Sight. But maybe that's just me. One of my favorite scenes in this is Giles trying to describe etmology mythology to Buffy and Willow. I also adored the references to sirens, celtic mythology and the whole conversation Giles has with his old, somewhat crazy colleague over the phone.
Xander's character gets developed a bit more here - establishing what a complete nit-wit he can be, yet a charming and courageous one. You like Xander in spite of himself in this episode. The other part of the episode that I enjoyed - was how they melded the information on Praymantises with the Monster, using the metaphor of losing one's head over how a girl looks. And the whole idea of being pursued, predatory female - which Xander is very attracted to. It's why he goes for Buffy and not Willow, Buffy is super-strong and more predatory, she can beat him up. But she isn't predatory, she doesn't pursue. Cordelia is more of a pursuer, as is Anya - both predatory females.
Out of Sight also uses scholarly information or literature - the story of Shylock. Of the episodes in S1, only two really seem to do this: Out of Sight and Teacher's Pet. Although Never Kill mentions Emily Dickenson - the literary analogy is more vague.
Overall? S1 DVD is good, not great. The episodes are the same quality as on my tapes. Not as crystal as in later DVDs. The featurettes? Skippable. With possible exception of the Welcome to The Hellmouth/Harvest commentary. Not much there. I doubt I'll buy it. I might get the Compete Buffy DVD. But I won't buy S1 separately. Also, I despise the packaging. Gellar looks like she was photographed for the cover of "Barely Legal" or "Penthouse" not a tv show.
Will say she's prettier in S1 than S7 and oddly bustier. Does anyone else find it odd that a 17 year old has a bigger bust than the 28 year old version?
Hmmm..it's 1:33am, I'm tired. Finally coming down from that piece of chocolat I had at ten am this morning, or yesterday morning called "Pocket Coffee" - it's chocolat with a pocket of black coffee in the center...and apparently my body is allergic to coffee. It makes me wired. For me, one thimble, which is what this was, is the equivalent of 20 cups for most people. And it's just coffee. Chocolat, fine. Tea, fine. Coffee...ugh. So not sure the words above made a heck of a lot of sense.
no subject
Date: 2004-12-04 04:24 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2004-12-04 07:11 am (UTC)But I think I'll trust my choices now, and see if I can't read to her. And maybe tell her stories just like I did with my brother when we were children. (He remembers me telling him stories when we were young. We were only 3 years apart.)
no subject
Date: 2004-12-04 07:17 am (UTC)True, but that is part of the process of learning "how" to read. They are easily adaptable at this age. Wait a few months, and then they can say no. Plus, the bite marks are cute years later. You forget how small they were. And the cloth or chunky books are generally lousy.
Do read to her. You are the aunt, and there are many privileges that go with that ;-) When they start sleeping with their books, you will know you have done your job well.