Week in Review

[kate_nepveu]

I can't believe we're leaving for Japan on Saturday. And are leaving here on Friday.

 . . . I only have thirteen or fourteen chapters of Genji left and yet I still don't think I'm going to manage to finish it before we leave.

Anyway. The week that was:

Dear new massage person,

When I say, "I have bursitis in both hips, and just got a cortisone shot in the right one," do not lean really hard on a tight spot in my right hip, because that? Was the inflammed bursae, and now the cortisone shot might as well never have happened.

Yours in never coming back,

She Who Will Limp Her Way Around Japan

Two movies in one weekend, which is pratically unprecedented for us. Besides Bourne, previously discussed here, we saw Stardust on Sunday with yhlee. It was pretty enjoyable: de Niro's role was, I thought, a misstep that verged on offensive, and there were a few places in the story that had been Hollywooded up, but those flaws didn't taint the entire thing. I refuse to compare it to The Princess Bride, however, because I've been watching The Princess Bride for almost all of my movie-watching life and I simply can't be objective about it.

(I really need try and make an icon of The Grandfather saying, "Yes, you're very smart. Now shut up," and possibly one of "She does not get eaten by the eels at this time." But not tonight.)

Pretty much everything else was International Blog Against Racism Week (my posts, all posts), which was enlightening and frustrating and heartening and maddening and oh so very time-consuming. My deepest thanks to everyone who took time to explain, who listened, who asked clarifying questions, and who otherwise helped make it a little easier to talk about racism. I had a lot of things to say this year, partly because I'd stored them up, waiting for the relative protection of being one of a school of fish; but I'm working on needing that less.

And on that note, I highly recommend damali ayo's I Can Fix It: Racism (PDF), which lists five things you can do to fix racism (via coffeeandink's post recommending three basic online resources; see also her recommendations of five books).

Comments

[oyceter]

I had a lot of things to say this year, partly because I'd stored them up, waiting for the relative protection of being one of a school of fish; but I'm working on needing that less.

I'm really glad you posted, largely because it means I got to read your posts ^_^. So thank you, and I am also glad that IBARW provided some sort of protection, even though you still got comments dripping with privilege.

[kate_nepveu]

Thanks, you too.

[culfinriel.livejournal.com]

The attempts to compare Stardust to The Princess Bride bother me because it isn't and because it should be considered on its own merits. Similarly, they are already promoting The Golden Compass by comparing it the Jackson's LOTR. This seems ill-considered to me.

Enjoy Japan!

[kate_nepveu]

I can at least see _why_ one would compare _Stardust_ with _tPB_. I have a harder time with His Dark Materials and LotR when it comes to substance, rather than superficials.

And thanks!

[aliothsan.livejournal.com]

"...because that? Was the inflammed bursae..."

I've only ever encountered that particular syntax in the writings of a particular Sarah Bunting (http://www.tomatonation.com). I picked it up in my everyday speech but never heard or read anyone else use it. Are you a fellow fan, or is this wonderful serendipity?

[kate_nepveu]

Just serendipity. I'm not aware that I consciously picked it up anywhere.