And did Geloca think the Yulus were too ugly to save?

[sovay]

I can't tell whether I'm fighting off a new cold or just that wiped from the ear infection and the antibiotics, but I feel lately as though I can get about three hours out of the day when I'm not bone-tired and they're never when I need them to be. It does not help that I spent two and a half hours out of Thursday night on a conference call and my entire Friday morning and afternoon on the phone with my ex-alma mater in what came to feel ever more indistinguishable from an academic version of Shelley Berman's "Department Store" ("Southwest . . . Yes, I'll hold"). The results were ultimately positive, I should stress, and almost everyone I encountered unfailingly sympathetic even if they couldn't do more than refer me to the next office that sounded like it might be able to help, but I still spoke with eight different departments and one of them three times. Physiologically, I imagine it was just a cold-weather, dry-environment fluke that I got a nosebleed somewhere between the ITS help desk and the ID Center, but it sure felt symbolic at the time.

After which I fell asleep for a poleaxed hour after dinner and then met derspatchel at the Brattle for a late-night show of The Last Starfighter (1984), providing me with a much-needed hit of Robert Preston and the particular grin you can feel your face light into at the sound of the opening theme for a movie you haven't seen in twenty-something years; I came home and read Grace Lin's Where the Mountain Meets the Moon (2009), a beautifully illustrated braiding of Chinese folktales with original material that reminded me of Laurence Yep's The Rainbow People (1989) and Tongues of Jade (1991) and inclines me to track down everything else the author has written so far. My single greatest accomplishment today has been making a lemon cake, which is in the oven right now. I practiced driving for an hour in the afternoon. (I have a license, but for all extents and purposes I haven't driven since 2003. It made sense for a while, but now that needs to change.) I watched half of the 1965 Flight of the Phoenix. I deleted a bunch of livejournal spam.

I just wish my brain would go back to feeling like it had something to say.

Comments

[handful-ofdust.livejournal.com]

Ha, I saw Flight of the Phoenix was on and thought of you. Also, Steve and I just watched Big Trouble in Little China, the twenty-(or thirty-?!?)year-old movie that always makes both of us grin ear to ear.;)

I'm sorry about your brain-sludge, though. Will try to have my thoughts on Skyfall up ASAP, but if you want to email me and direct, feel free.

[asakiyume.livejournal.com]

The spam is intense; I've never had it so bad.

And Where the Mountain Meets the Moon is one of my favorites--nicely done, and a beautiful book, to boot.

[sovay]

The spam is intense; I've never had it so bad.

I never had much of a problem with it until today. So far I've had to delete a dozen messages on random entries, sometimes the same ones, sometimes not. I have no idea what determines what makes a post an attractive target for spambots. I'd just like them to knock it off, thank you. Have spam comments ever sold a single product?

And Where the Mountain Meets the Moon is one of my favorites--nicely done, and a beautiful book, to boot.

Have you read any of her other work—and if so, do you have any recommendations?

[sovay]

Ha, I saw Flight of the Phoenix was on and thought of you.

Hah. Thank you. I don't know how it ended up one of my comfort films, but there you go.

Also, Steve and I just watched Big Trouble in Little China, the twenty-(or thirty-?!?)year-old movie that always makes both of us grin ear to ear.

I have still never seen that! I must know someone who could screen it for me.

Will try to have my thoughts on Skyfall up ASAP, but if you want to email me and direct, feel free.

Dude. I am curious . . .

[handful-ofdust.livejournal.com]

Short story short, I really loved it, but I'm now having trouble separating my feelings about the film itself from my annoyance about how certain people have chosen to interpret it (especially those who've done so without actually seeing the film, and have in some cases decided not to see the film proactively because of stupid crap they've heard other people say). But I don't think I should go into it unless I'm in a spoiler zone, if you know what I mean.

[sovay]

But I don't think I should go into it unless I'm in a spoiler zone, if you know what I mean.

Check: I'll wait for the post. I will now consider chances good that I'll like the film, however, since I have very rarely hated anything you've recommended to me.

[asakiyume.livejournal.com]

No, I never have. Strange: I liked the book and yet totally didn't consider--until seeing your remark about wanting to read more stuff by her--that she might have written other things.

[fidelioscabinet.livejournal.com]

I saw a Korean movie today, called Restless; it seemed like something I'd have read about here, although I can't remember whether you'd actually commented on it. Very beautiful, very simple story saying very complicated things.

[ap-aelfwine.livejournal.com]

I'm sorry for your feeling so wrecked. I'm glad results were ultimately positive and that you've made a lemon cake, which is definitely something and generally a tasty something besides.

I wish you feeling better and I wish you great luck with the reacquisition of driving skills. I didn't drive for a bit more than half a year, living in Ireland, and it took me nearly the same time again to get the ability back. I hope it's a swifter thing for you.

I'm glad there were books and a movie that pleased you.

[three-magpies.livejournal.com]

I'm sorry you've been down and out. I am sending you a picture of golden, glowing woods and chittering birds. There, that will go well with lemon cake.

[sovay]

I saw a Korean movie today, called Restless; it seemed like something I'd have read about here, although I can't remember whether you'd actually commented on it.

No; I don't even think I've heard of it! Tell me what it was like.

[sovay]

I am sending you a picture of golden, glowing woods and chittering birds. There, that will go well with lemon cake.

Thank you.

[ashlyme.livejournal.com]

I'm glad the film and book cheered you. Sending you good wishes for a bright mind.

[sovay]

Sending you good wishes for a bright mind.

Thank you. I am definitely failing to fight off a new cold, but I am going this afternoon to the party I baked the cake for. It will be worth it.

[fidelioscabinet.livejournal.com]

I have finally managed to do so, over on my journal, to spare you a too-long comment. It is about love and memory and salvation and duty and rebellion and demon-fighting.

It is a very Korean movie, and is a philosophical meditation barely disguised as a martial-arts movie with demons and angelic beings. Watch for the zither player...

Netflix has it.