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shadowkatSpent most of my vacation attempting to quell various aches and pains, brought on by various factors, some known, some guessed at, some not?
So, in a sense, relieved that I didn't go anywhere, and didn't have to lug myself to work. Because it just would have gotten worse? I was in a lot more pain before I went on vacation than I am now.
Progress? I guess? The massage did help a bit. For about thirty minutes - I wasn't in too much pain, fifteen pain free - then I went down steps. And took a long walk to the subway. NYCT and I are going to have words about the accessibility of their transportation system. They need to put in more elevators and ramps, and less steps. Escalators aren't cutting it.
Took a brief walk around the block today - and came home. I felt like someone was stabbing my head with a hot poker, and sticking hot needles in my right leg and hip. So enough of that. I put heat on the back. Aleve cream on the leg and back. And took migraine meds.
Now the pain has receded to a mild ache, it's there, but I can ignore it.
A lot of this is just arthritis, aggravated by the shift in weather - every injury I've ever had, is telling me - hi, I'm here.
***
The UU Church has a Devotional Poetry Writing Group. I flirted with it. But I'm wary of anything regarding the writing and sharing of poetry. Been there done that still have the battle scars? People are weird about poetry?
It's a highly subjective art, and there are multiple styles and forms. There's really no right or wrong way to write it (although a lot of people have very strong opinions about it) - and most poetry is deeply personal. And as in all things that are artistic and shared with others - people can be cruel and critical, but rarely constructive and kind or so I've noticed over time.
As a result of this realization, I've stopped critiquing others work or if I do, I try to add the caveat that it just didn't work for me, or wasn't to my taste. Which is the most honest thing I can actually say about it? Just because I don't like something doesn't mean it isn't good or bad or indifferent? It depends on your perspective. Also, I can change my mind down the road. And, I don't want to crimp on anyone's style?
The difficulty with the group - is I want to lurk on the sidelines for a bit and be silent. And I don't think they want that? And I know myself well enough - to realize that I'm physically incapable of keeping my mouth shut.
UU Church is also featuring a singer/song-writer for tomorrow's service, who is (apparently) popular? I hadn't heard of them before the Church newsletter told me about him - but I'm also not really into religious music? While I have, as you've no doubt figured out by now, widely diverse taste in music, there are few genres I rarely listen to? They are "traditional classical opera", "electronica" (depending on the electronica), "religious music", "gospel", "choral music", "rap" (depending on the rap), and heavy metal (depending on the heavy metal). So, as result, I hadn't come across this person, who I think is trans, and is creating queer religious music and going across the country with it.
Anyhow...I checked them out last night, and their song, entitled Ploushare Prayer by Spencer LaJoye.
Folks, they made me cry? It really moved me. I was surprised.
But not sure I can deal with the crowd that will converge on the church tomorrow to hear them play for free. I'll do it on Facebook or Zoom instead. No steps. Sleep in. And better acoustics, not to mention I can see more.
***
Pain and fear of large crowds kept me from participating in the No Kings Day. I hope it went well. More to the point? I hope it accomplishes something?
Ah, it's getting darker earlier now. Sunset was at 6:30. My heart goes out to my brother - whose heating and cooling system has failed him. He's tried to get it fixed multiple times. The first time, they came out, he paid them, they claimed that they fixed it. They didn't. They came out again, claimed to fix it, they didn't. Then they got bought by someone else. Who kept claiming they didn't get my brother's calls or emails, and came out, and then well up and disappeared. So he found a new company - and the whole system has to be replaced. He has a wood burning stove - but it's not going to heat the entire house, and his bedroom is one floor below it, and heat rises? And it gets cold up there? And my brother gets cold easily. [I'm so glad I rent. Let all of that be somebody else's problem. We've had hitting issues - but they tend to get resolved quickly - since there's about 100 people affected.)
****
Television
1. Weirdly I'm enjoying Angel the Series better now than I did way back when I first watched it in the late 1990s. If I was to hazard a guess - I think it would be lowered expectations, and no longer wanting Angel and Buffy to be together - or being disappointed that they aren't? I wasn't in the fandom until roughly 2002 - or midway through S6. I joined the fandom late. There were people in it since the 1990s, I didn't jump in until 2002, when the writers got really creative and defied expectations, also I was going through some gnarly personal stuff at the time - and it was a much needed distraction. (And I didn't know it existed nor was I able to find most of until 2001.) At any rate - I'm enjoying Angel more now. Partly, because I like Angel, Wes, and Cordelia better now than I did twenty five years ago. I find them a bit more relatable and comforting. They are all a tad lost, and doing the best they can to make things work, while flailing miserably most of the time. The writers dig down into classic noir tropes.
And, I like how most of the writers veer away from the classical hero trope. For all the times, Angel succeeds, he also fails miserably. In the Scourge? The seventh or eighth episode, he attempts to sacrifice himself heroically - but his speeches to Doyle about why he sacrificed his humanity and a life with his one true love to pursue the cause, backfires on him in a huge way. Doyle takes his speech to heart, clocks him, kisses Cordelia - passing his visions on to her, and sacrifices himself instead. (The writer's had intended to kill Doyle off later in the season, much as they'd intended to write OZ out later, but both actors became unavailable far sooner than expected. Glenn Quinn tragically - had a heroine addiction, was late to work, and was causing issues. Both David B and Charisma C missed him tremendously. Quinn went back home to Ireland, entered rehab, and tried to overcome his affliction, but alas, the addiction won in the end and killed him. I know it's easy for us to judge addicts? But addiction is a genetic disease, and kills millions.) At any rate - Angel gave up his humanity because he knew the Scourge was coming, yet, ironically and in true noir style, is unable to make a difference - outside of influencing Doyle - and unintentionally persuading him to sacrifice himself. Which just gives Angel more to brood over.
Cordelia also is greatly changed by Doyle's sacrifice. She'd just got to the point of possibly entering a relationship with Doyle - when he sacrifices himself, leaving nothing but a failed advertisement and well the migraine inducing visions from the less than reliable PTB.
Moving on to Parting Gifts - which I didn't like the first time I saw it, twenty five years ago, I do now. It's a great study in characters and contrasts. Also demonstrates how Wes, Cordy and Angel work slightly better than Doyle, Angel and Cordy did. For one thing - they get it across pretty quickly - that there are 0 romantic feelings between Angel/Cordy or Cordy/Wes. Although Wes responds more positively to Cordy's sudden kiss, then Angel does, who immediately pushes her off. She's not kissing them for romantic reasons - she's trying to get rid of the pesky visions that Doyle plagued her with. . They also set up each character's skill sets. Doyle previously was both demon language/visions, and Cordy had little to do outside of be Doyle's romantic interest, and receptionist. Now, Cordy is visions (and it's harder for her to figure them out and they take more of a toll on her than they did on Doyle), Wes is the research/languages, and Angel is the brawn. Wes, unlike Doyle, is kind of incompetent in the brawn dept at this point. Denisof is a good actor, and attractive, he manages to handle the comedic and pathos as well as Quinn did but differently. But mainly, within a short period of time - they set up the problem, the on-going villain (WRH law firm in the shadows), and the relationship dynamic between Angel, Cordy, Wes. And I realized while watching that I like all three, and all three actors in spite of myself?
I prefer watching this outside of a fandom superimposing its views onto me?
I can find it comforting and enjoyable on my own. Also, no longer caring who ends up with who, or romantic ships - makes the show more interesting?
I was never much into romantic relationships on television shows? I much prefer the platonic friendships - they are more interesting to watch, and less frustrating - particularly within the noir/horror genre.
2. The Diplomat S3 - this is fun. Want sparkling funny witty dialogue - this is it. Good actors. And excellent political satire. Also, even though the President in this series was responsible for an act of terrorism? I still prefer Allison Janey as President to the one we currently have. I'd rather live in the world of the Diplomat? Sad I know. But here we are. And, sigh, Rufus Sewell is hot. This show just makes me laugh. I'm not binging it this go around - I'm letting it last. Then I may rewatch from the beginning.
[I'm still watching Poker Face and Rain Maker on Peacock, just slowly.]
So, in a sense, relieved that I didn't go anywhere, and didn't have to lug myself to work. Because it just would have gotten worse? I was in a lot more pain before I went on vacation than I am now.
Progress? I guess? The massage did help a bit. For about thirty minutes - I wasn't in too much pain, fifteen pain free - then I went down steps. And took a long walk to the subway. NYCT and I are going to have words about the accessibility of their transportation system. They need to put in more elevators and ramps, and less steps. Escalators aren't cutting it.
Took a brief walk around the block today - and came home. I felt like someone was stabbing my head with a hot poker, and sticking hot needles in my right leg and hip. So enough of that. I put heat on the back. Aleve cream on the leg and back. And took migraine meds.
Now the pain has receded to a mild ache, it's there, but I can ignore it.
A lot of this is just arthritis, aggravated by the shift in weather - every injury I've ever had, is telling me - hi, I'm here.
***
The UU Church has a Devotional Poetry Writing Group. I flirted with it. But I'm wary of anything regarding the writing and sharing of poetry. Been there done that still have the battle scars? People are weird about poetry?
It's a highly subjective art, and there are multiple styles and forms. There's really no right or wrong way to write it (although a lot of people have very strong opinions about it) - and most poetry is deeply personal. And as in all things that are artistic and shared with others - people can be cruel and critical, but rarely constructive and kind or so I've noticed over time.
As a result of this realization, I've stopped critiquing others work or if I do, I try to add the caveat that it just didn't work for me, or wasn't to my taste. Which is the most honest thing I can actually say about it? Just because I don't like something doesn't mean it isn't good or bad or indifferent? It depends on your perspective. Also, I can change my mind down the road. And, I don't want to crimp on anyone's style?
The difficulty with the group - is I want to lurk on the sidelines for a bit and be silent. And I don't think they want that? And I know myself well enough - to realize that I'm physically incapable of keeping my mouth shut.
UU Church is also featuring a singer/song-writer for tomorrow's service, who is (apparently) popular? I hadn't heard of them before the Church newsletter told me about him - but I'm also not really into religious music? While I have, as you've no doubt figured out by now, widely diverse taste in music, there are few genres I rarely listen to? They are "traditional classical opera", "electronica" (depending on the electronica), "religious music", "gospel", "choral music", "rap" (depending on the rap), and heavy metal (depending on the heavy metal). So, as result, I hadn't come across this person, who I think is trans, and is creating queer religious music and going across the country with it.
Anyhow...I checked them out last night, and their song, entitled Ploushare Prayer by Spencer LaJoye.
Folks, they made me cry? It really moved me. I was surprised.
But not sure I can deal with the crowd that will converge on the church tomorrow to hear them play for free. I'll do it on Facebook or Zoom instead. No steps. Sleep in. And better acoustics, not to mention I can see more.
***
Pain and fear of large crowds kept me from participating in the No Kings Day. I hope it went well. More to the point? I hope it accomplishes something?
Ah, it's getting darker earlier now. Sunset was at 6:30. My heart goes out to my brother - whose heating and cooling system has failed him. He's tried to get it fixed multiple times. The first time, they came out, he paid them, they claimed that they fixed it. They didn't. They came out again, claimed to fix it, they didn't. Then they got bought by someone else. Who kept claiming they didn't get my brother's calls or emails, and came out, and then well up and disappeared. So he found a new company - and the whole system has to be replaced. He has a wood burning stove - but it's not going to heat the entire house, and his bedroom is one floor below it, and heat rises? And it gets cold up there? And my brother gets cold easily. [I'm so glad I rent. Let all of that be somebody else's problem. We've had hitting issues - but they tend to get resolved quickly - since there's about 100 people affected.)
****
Television
1. Weirdly I'm enjoying Angel the Series better now than I did way back when I first watched it in the late 1990s. If I was to hazard a guess - I think it would be lowered expectations, and no longer wanting Angel and Buffy to be together - or being disappointed that they aren't? I wasn't in the fandom until roughly 2002 - or midway through S6. I joined the fandom late. There were people in it since the 1990s, I didn't jump in until 2002, when the writers got really creative and defied expectations, also I was going through some gnarly personal stuff at the time - and it was a much needed distraction. (And I didn't know it existed nor was I able to find most of until 2001.) At any rate - I'm enjoying Angel more now. Partly, because I like Angel, Wes, and Cordelia better now than I did twenty five years ago. I find them a bit more relatable and comforting. They are all a tad lost, and doing the best they can to make things work, while flailing miserably most of the time. The writers dig down into classic noir tropes.
And, I like how most of the writers veer away from the classical hero trope. For all the times, Angel succeeds, he also fails miserably. In the Scourge? The seventh or eighth episode, he attempts to sacrifice himself heroically - but his speeches to Doyle about why he sacrificed his humanity and a life with his one true love to pursue the cause, backfires on him in a huge way. Doyle takes his speech to heart, clocks him, kisses Cordelia - passing his visions on to her, and sacrifices himself instead. (The writer's had intended to kill Doyle off later in the season, much as they'd intended to write OZ out later, but both actors became unavailable far sooner than expected. Glenn Quinn tragically - had a heroine addiction, was late to work, and was causing issues. Both David B and Charisma C missed him tremendously. Quinn went back home to Ireland, entered rehab, and tried to overcome his affliction, but alas, the addiction won in the end and killed him. I know it's easy for us to judge addicts? But addiction is a genetic disease, and kills millions.) At any rate - Angel gave up his humanity because he knew the Scourge was coming, yet, ironically and in true noir style, is unable to make a difference - outside of influencing Doyle - and unintentionally persuading him to sacrifice himself. Which just gives Angel more to brood over.
Cordelia also is greatly changed by Doyle's sacrifice. She'd just got to the point of possibly entering a relationship with Doyle - when he sacrifices himself, leaving nothing but a failed advertisement and well the migraine inducing visions from the less than reliable PTB.
Moving on to Parting Gifts - which I didn't like the first time I saw it, twenty five years ago, I do now. It's a great study in characters and contrasts. Also demonstrates how Wes, Cordy and Angel work slightly better than Doyle, Angel and Cordy did. For one thing - they get it across pretty quickly - that there are 0 romantic feelings between Angel/Cordy or Cordy/Wes. Although Wes responds more positively to Cordy's sudden kiss, then Angel does, who immediately pushes her off. She's not kissing them for romantic reasons - she's trying to get rid of the pesky visions that Doyle plagued her with. . They also set up each character's skill sets. Doyle previously was both demon language/visions, and Cordy had little to do outside of be Doyle's romantic interest, and receptionist. Now, Cordy is visions (and it's harder for her to figure them out and they take more of a toll on her than they did on Doyle), Wes is the research/languages, and Angel is the brawn. Wes, unlike Doyle, is kind of incompetent in the brawn dept at this point. Denisof is a good actor, and attractive, he manages to handle the comedic and pathos as well as Quinn did but differently. But mainly, within a short period of time - they set up the problem, the on-going villain (WRH law firm in the shadows), and the relationship dynamic between Angel, Cordy, Wes. And I realized while watching that I like all three, and all three actors in spite of myself?
I prefer watching this outside of a fandom superimposing its views onto me?
I can find it comforting and enjoyable on my own. Also, no longer caring who ends up with who, or romantic ships - makes the show more interesting?
I was never much into romantic relationships on television shows? I much prefer the platonic friendships - they are more interesting to watch, and less frustrating - particularly within the noir/horror genre.
2. The Diplomat S3 - this is fun. Want sparkling funny witty dialogue - this is it. Good actors. And excellent political satire. Also, even though the President in this series was responsible for an act of terrorism? I still prefer Allison Janey as President to the one we currently have. I'd rather live in the world of the Diplomat? Sad I know. But here we are. And, sigh, Rufus Sewell is hot. This show just makes me laugh. I'm not binging it this go around - I'm letting it last. Then I may rewatch from the beginning.
[I'm still watching Poker Face and Rain Maker on Peacock, just slowly.]
no subject
Date: 2025-10-19 11:49 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2025-10-19 02:32 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2025-10-19 12:10 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2025-10-19 02:31 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2025-10-19 10:13 pm (UTC)Also like those things about The Diplomat.
no subject
Date: 2025-10-20 12:20 am (UTC)And I honestly think Wes's arc is the best thing about Angel the series - or it's what I remember being the best thing? Spike got the best arc on Buffy, and Wes got the best arc on Angel. Or at least that's how I remember it? I may change my mind, but doubtful.
no subject
Date: 2025-10-21 02:24 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2025-10-21 09:55 pm (UTC)Although I think I skipped over a lot of episodes when I watched in the 1990s. It was on at the same time as Alias, and this was before DVR's? OR Streaming? Or DVDs? So I did a lot of jumping back and forth.