Wednesday, June 29, 2011

It's the subleties of the Saga ...

Oh, the nuances of Star Wars.  Our house is all about it these days.  It is very surreal to debate your kid on George Lucas' seemingly never-ending storyline.  The irony really hit home when Atticus started saying, "In a galaxy far, far away ... " in the car this morning.  To add to this unexpected blast back to 1977, I had to FB message my friend, Coye, in Chicago this morning as follows:

"Please tell me, in your opinion, who is the best Jedi of all time? My 4-year old and I had a very heated argument about the subject this morning on the way to daycare. I vehemently defended Yoda, while he claimed Anakin Skywalker to be the best. His reasoning is that Anakin is the only one who could defeat Count Dookoo. Is he correct in this assumption? My defense was that Yoda is the beginning of all things Jedi. He taught Obi Wan, who in turn taught Anakin. He also trained Luke Skywalker. And Anakin turned to the dark side anyway, so he doesn't count. I don't think Dookoo even comes into the scenario.
What say you?"

I can imagine having this conversation with my brother, now 40 years old, when he was 6 years old.  My sister read him the opening credits back in the day and was delighted to do the same for her son when the time came.  It was actually kind of weird to do so now for Atticus.  Giving him pneumatic devices to remember the name Boba Fett (Bubble Helmet, Boba Fett, Bubble Helmet, Boba Fett) is just kinda trippy.  My "out" when I fall short with enlightening about the narrative is my "go to" that we'll have to ask his cousin Dawson, another resident expert.

We watch marathons on Spike t.v. on a regular basis now (yes, they repeat ALL the freakin' time).  We'll have to watch Episode I sometime to find out how Darth Maul comes about.  I still don't know exactly how General Greivous fits into the storyline either.  No, I don't know why Dookoo had so much evil influence, and I don't know why Emperor Palpatine was so creepy all along and turned Anakin to the dark side (besides being quite an ugly bastard).  In fact, I can't quite understand the whole Sith role.  

What I do know, or at least feel in my heart (lol), is that Yoda is the end all be all of Jedis.  I know my heart also fluttered to watch Mark Hammill on the big screen when I was a pre-teen and it still kind of does now (pre- and post-car wreck disfigurement).  It makes me feel good to only now even mention Darth Vader.  What a disappoint in the good-versus-evil sense.  I also know it was an assault on my indie-loving soul to see Ewan McGregor go from the likes of Shallow Grave and his full frontal in Velvet Goldmine to gracing Pizza Hut boxes and McDonald's cups as Obi Wan when he became known to the rest of the world.  And I sure miss Alec Guiness. 

It's gone from enjoying what I consider to be classic indie films to "which episode is this in which order" weekend marathons.  Wow.

Now, can't wait to hear back from Coye.    

Wednesday, June 22, 2011

So many channels, so little time - a couple thoughts.

In a blogpost by someone I've recently started to read (http://www.huffingtonpost.com/delia-lloyd/summer-reading-bums-me-out_b_877759.html), I came across a mention of an NPR article I want to read:


Basically the author of the NPR article says, "There is so much to read without enough time to read it."  I totally agree.  And not enough time for all the other stories I want to enjoy (movies, tv, you name it).  Hell, I can't even divvy up the time to finish Lloyd's Huff Post article, and there are certainly other things I should be doing.  She's talking summer reading list time, another luxury I would relish having!

Instead, I read inane crap on the websites I frequent.  These are online communities that I enjoy but loath at the same time because of some of the content post by mainly radical, outspoken conservatives that drive me nuts.  I mean, FFS, there was an awesome feel-good story about Pres Obama quieting a crying baby.  It made me smile, which says a lot considering my cynicism.  Then all these crazy women had to flame him out on the BBC post on FB.  Come on, that much hate for one tiny act of kindness?  It is amazing how much energy is thrown at such nonsensical things, and it scares me to fathom how many young females out there in the general population sound like crazy ass Bachman and Palin.  Leave Barack alone!  (He and I are on a first-name basis, ya know? *fingers crossed in emphasis*)

My Visualbookshelf currently has 335 titles listed that I want to read (http://apps.facebook.com/facebookshelf/people/1700647150).  So maybe less time on copying these links, and more time reading all the narratives I think I'm missing?  Starting on the ten books piled on the bedroom dresser and numerous freebies acquired on my Kindle in an attempt to read classics would be a start.  Three hundred thirty-five, ya right!

And on a totally unrelated note, you know you're old when FB friend suggestions start popping up for the kids you used to babysit in your teens.  Whoa.  Oh, and I guess less time on FB would also help. 

Friday, June 17, 2011

She's so inspirational!

Who knew a narcissist could be so "groundbreaking and extraordinary," just like she claims?  My co-worker friend, Desiree, unknowingly gave me the final push to actually create a blog (http://desireebelezoskeepcalmcarryon.blogspot.com).  I've thought about it for quite awhile now, thanks to my cousin, Maria (http://dicksondiary.blogspot.com/). The right time never seemed to come.

So many people talk of bloggers of being just what Desiree's jokes about being, narcissistic.  Alas, I chose to wait until after all the mommy newness wore off, especially at my "advanced maternal age," so that it wasn't a complete look-at-me-I've-procreated babyfest.  Sure, it's inevitably going to go there from time to time, but let's hope I can make it more.

I don't claim to be witty or particularly astute, but it's fun to add my own social commentary ever now and then.  It's not just limited to Yahoo's OMG! page now.  Although, mine are very sound pop culture ramblings there, if I must say so myself.  Since I'm always on my soapbox about something anyway, I find blogspot to be yet another venue for imposing my opinions on the world.  Let the self-absorption commence (like it wasn't there before?)!