Week Ending 10/29

 So, what happened this week? What did happen this week?

I made myself dinner. That's a pretty big triumph. I can put things in the oven and bake them. So I put a chicken breast in the oven with some bbq sauce, baked it and had it with some Stovetop Stuffing. Hey, I didn't say I made good dinner, but I made dinner.

I painted some minis. I really need to post more pictures of my minis but I don't have any now. 

I played Age of Sigmar (tabletop mini wargame) with D and had a lot of fun doing that. I should see about getting some pictures of one of these games to post too.

I wrote more Bad Moon Rising and published two more chapter. By the way, I actually care about this story. It may not be great literature or important in The Grand Scheme of Things but it's important to me. So it hurts me that folks don't care about it. I just want to say that... again.

What else... I watched two new movies Last Voyage of the Demeter and Barbie, and wrote reviews of both (duh, you can see the links).

You know... I did a lot this week. Which is funny because I still crashed well before noon most days and spent the afternoons resting. Or maybe it's because I crashed before noon most days and spent the afternoons resting. 

Hint, self... hint. 

Wow.

Onward.

Barbie (2023)

I have finally seen Barbie. I liked it. 

If you don't know... well, this movie is richer and more complex than I expected. 

Spoilers I guess

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I was reminded of a theory presented by my Classics professor in college - He said that the foundational myths of the ancient Near East shared the theme of a powerful, primal female force of chaos being defeated by the predominantly male gods, who then established our world. He believed that this mythology reflected a real historical event... a primordial matriarchy, overthrown by men who would go on to found the patriarchal social order under which we still struggle. 

That's pretty much the story... only, you know, with Barbie(s) as Tiamat and Ken(s) as a wannabe Marduk. 

I liked it. I will also say, as a middle-aged white male, I am probably not its primary target audience. Not that it is a movie middle-aged white males shouldn't watch, on the contrary, we absolutely should... but there are parts of it that don't resonate as strongly for me as they do for my wife, simply because I don't share the experience of being a woman in modern America. It reminds a little of the Captain Marvel and (to a lesser degree) Wonder Woman movies in that regard.

Even with him being the villain, I confess I found myself with some sympathy for Ken's struggle... which is essentially to establish his own identity. I don't continence his foray into toxic masculinity but I guess I can understand why, like to many weak men in the Real World, he could be lured into that. In the end, Ken finds that he doesn't need Patriarchy, which isn't about horses after all (watch the movie, you'll get it) because it's just another case of letting someone else define him. He needs to define himself.

Yeah, a lot going on in this movie... plus some great visuals, fantastic dialogue and more than a few wonderful dance numbers.

Well worth all the hype.

Last Voyager of the Demeter (2023)

I've been eager to see this movie since I heard about it, simply because it sounded like a neat concept. Now that I've finally managed to get ahold of it, I am pleased. I find it to be an entertaining movie. The director has been quoted as describing it as "Alien, on sailboat, in the 1890's" and that pretty much sums it up.

If you don't know the story already - there is a short chapter in Bram Stoker's novel Dracula that is the ships log of the Demeter, a Russian sailing ship commissioned to bring 50 boxes of earth from Romania to London... and the horrors that befall the doomed ship thanks to its stowaway: Dracula himself. 

So, there, now you pretty much know the story of Last Voyage of the Demeter... and if you didn't, well you should because the movie doesn't try to hide it. The movie is pretty up front with what is happening, doubtless assuming that most people already know anyway.

What makes Last Voyage of the Demeter isn't any kind of mystery. We know Dracula is on board. We know the ship and the crew are doomed. What makes it interesting is watching how it all unfolds. Getting to know the characters, knowing they are doomed, and watching their Last Voyage...

It's a good story.

Week Ending 10/22

 What to say about this week?

Well, I posted two chapters of Bad Moon Rising and have two more written. Chapter 17, which should go up this coming Wednesday, is actually the first part of this story I wrote. From here I actually start on the story I've had in my head from the beginning, before I realized I needed to set up a new point-of-view character and establish a little more of her world. So, sixteen chapters of "scene setting." Oi

I'm really enjoying the whole writing process of these stories. 

Of course, now I've got the really challenging part of "SimLit" ... I've got a clear image in my head of what I want to do and the game won't cooperate in giving me the screenshots I need to do it. Still enjoying it. Just occasionally shouting profanity at my computer and sims for not behaving. So far, Freddie the Werewolf Toddler is the best behaved of the lot.

If you have no idea what I'm talking about, follow the link and read the bloody story already.

Otherwise, it's been a pretty typical week. Good days. Bad days. Still having trouble sleeping... not sure what that's about. How can I be so tired I literally can't keep my eyes open at 8:00 PM and wide awake when the lights go out at 10:00 PM? Sigh.

I guess my other big thing is... I'm lonely. Sorta. I miss having people to talk to, or chat/IM with, or email. The problem is, actually doing that is exhausting. Like physically draining to the point that I need to lay down if I spend more than 30 minutes on the phone with someone. On the other hand, I found myself waxing philosophical about life in an email to my lawyer... who, while a nice guy, really isn't someone I ought to be discussing philosophy of life stuff with. Again, sigh.

You wanna make me happy? Read my story and shoot me an email about what you like about it. Feel free to keep what you don't like about it to yourself. :)

Anyway, these chapters don't write themselves.

Onward

Week Ending 10/15

This has been a weird week.

I've had several days where I couldn't get to sleep at night, leading to days were I'm even more exhausted than usual because I haven't slept properly. I don't why I can't get to sleep... except maybe that I'm stressing out about. You know, I have no idea what I'm stressing out about.

Then we have the day when I was hyper and constantly on the verge of screaming and throwing things. I think I might have double dosed my thyroid medicine. That could do that... but I'm not sure. Certainly, if I did I have absolutely no memory of taking the first dose. Unfortunately, it's becoming increasingly frequent that I will do some routine task and have absolutely no memory of doing it... and don't I feel just thrilled by that. 

Yeah... really weird week. 

Ah well, here's hoping next week will be better.

Onward

Week Ending 10/8

Last week was my birthday week, and it was a pretty good one.

Celebrated my birthday... Juno made me a lovely cake and a nice dinner. My family got me some very nice presents. I've been binge-watching The Closer all week. (Brenda should never allow Flynn and Provensa to go anywhere or do anything alone together... ever. Also, Fritz deserves the Noble Prize for relationships.)

I also got a yoga dvd. Everyone says yoga is great for post-COVID. They're right. It's "chair-yoga" so basically yoga designed to be done while sitting in your chair. No really crazy bending or stretching, but a good workout. I feel better when I do it. Right now, I'm planning on doing it every other morning... because every morning might be pushing it too hard to fast, but I'm working up to that.

So, yeah, very nice week all in all.

Onward

Week Ending 10/1

Well, today is my last day of being 50. Tomorrow, I turn 51. Happy almost-Birthday to me!

It's been a somewhat frightful week, unfortunately. I got a call from my attorney and the insurance company is up to its old tricks again. My disability insurance (which is different from my Social Security disability benefits) is moving into the "any job" phase. To explain, the insurance has two phases... the first is "can you work your current job?" and the second is "can you work any job?"

After a detailed review of my medical records, the insurance company has declared that my doctor clearly and unequivocally states that I cannot work. They then declare that they've decided my doctor is wrong and I can work, so they're going to stop the payments. 

My lawyer was very apologetic, saying several times that he knows this isn't what I wanted to hear. 

Wanted to hear? No. Expected to hear? Absolutely! Of course, the insurance company was going to pull this stunt. Honestly, is anyone surprised by this? 

Once my lawyer stopped apologizing long enough, I told to start working on the appeal of the insurance company's decision. I mean, really, did anyone think I was just going to accept it. I mean, seriously, have you met me!? :)

Sadly, it's just stressful and I really could do without the stress.

Well, otherwise it's been a decent enough week. 

Looking forward to my birthday.

Onward