I hope everyone had a happy 4th, whether Independent or just....generally! Mine was filled with all of the food and beer.

This guy knows what I'm talking about:


"Being Green" was the theme of the parade this year. It almost made up for the appallingly racist content of the parade, but not really. I'm kind of debating writing a letter to the Village Board (because that is what we have) because it was seriously....bad. But in the meanwhile, cute kids! Hats magnificently too large for tiny heads!

Reply to this meme by yelling "Words!" and I will give you five words that remind me of you. Then post them in your LJ and explain what they mean to you.

stars_like_dust gave me the following ( five words! well more than just five, REALLY. )

Looking over this, it seems I use a lot of exclamation points. Well, it is is the middle of the fucking night, what do you expect from me, totally sane levels of communication?

I went to the chiropractor today, and it was GLORIOUS. Oh, this is how my shoulders are supposed to work! ahhhhhh.

I am going to the eye doctor later, but in the meanwhile let's play That Meme.

Name a topic you would like me to discuss and I will tell you My Thoughts for at least 100 words! or alternately ask me about my icons! I have more than five right now, so there are at least options to choose from.

Hey, remember that time I really loved Skins, and then the season two finale made me cry like a fool every time I watched it?

No, me neither, we don't speak of that here. But you should still watch this Star Trek vid, because it's SO AMAZING, omfg, I don't even know. Time to Pretend! YOU MIGHT FEEL SOME THINGS, be forewarned.

I MISS MY SISTER MISS MY FATHER MISS MY DOG AND MY HOME

A week or so ago I went to a screening of The Proposal. The ultimate purpose in going was served*, but the film itself was kind of.......super weirdly all over the place! I am making zero attempts to organize my thoughts, thematically or otherwise, because spoiler alert: neither does the film!

( it’s the MORNING. )

* All that was required was "something to get me out of the house and away from the ridiculous food preparation in the kitchen (not mine)." That was fully satisfied!

With all the recent attention on Iran, I thought I would provide some Iran-focused things in various forms in case that is relevant to your interests! WHICH I SUSPECT IT MIGHT BE, since basically my entire Twitter feed is green now.


Books:

Reading Lolita in Tehran, Azar Nafisi: Nafisi is an Iranian ex-pat academic currently living in the US; she fled Iran with her husband and children in the 90s. Spanning four books and life pre-Revolution (the mid 70s) to just before the author's emigration. The majority of the book is set in a covert bookclub set up by Nafisi and some of her former students after she is fired from her professorship for refusing to veil. It's a pretty interesting perspective both on the books (The Great Gatsby, Pride & Prejudice, Daisy Miller, and of course the titular Lolita), as well as dealing explicitly with the issues related to the veil, psychologically and philosophically. Nafisi's won a bunch of awards for RLiT, but she's also been criticized for being too in league with the ideology of the Bush administration. She also recently released her memoirs, Things I've Been Silent About, which focuses more on her childhood and family life (her parents were both influential political figures; her mother was among the first women elected to the Pahlavi Parliament).

Persepolis, Marjane Satrapi: Graphic novel memoirs! Also a critically decorated animated film! I think it's an incredible book and equally awesome movie, especially as a more intuitive presentation of the Revolution, as Satrapi tells the story from her perspective as a child, with various clarifying annotations from her as an adult. The movie also features a pretty sweet soundtrack, and is currently on Netflix Instant Play! I've only read one of her other books, Embroideries, a narrative about the lives of women in the Islamic Republic that I really liked. It's another graphic novel based on Satrapi's childhood experiences, but more about the hilarious and scandalous gossip of the aunties that come around for tea. IT'S PRETTY AWES, I WON'T LIE.

Persian Mirrors: The Elusive Face of Iran, Eliane Sciolino: The only non-Iranian author here! Sciolino is a journalist who has covered Iran since the Revolution (and was on the plane that took Khomeini back to Iran, IN 1979, like, holy shit). It's really long, almost 400 pages, but it's really, really good, if you're looking for something more in depth. Also, unlike Hooman Majd's The Ayatollah Begs to Differ, Persian Mirrors isn't solely anecdotes, but related history and cultural profiles.

Films:

Obviously the aforementioned Persepolis!

Offside: Iran, like just about everywhere else in the world OTHER THAN THE US, is pretty fucking into soccer (or football, if you prefer). As a result of the Republic's strict segregation of the sexes, women are barred from attending matches. Unrelated to the movie, but as an interesting note, Iran's national football team won their first World Cup victory against the United States in 1998; it is currently their only victory outside of qualifying rounds. Anyway, Offside is the fictional story of a bunch of young girls' unsuccessful attempts to sneak into the 2005 qualifying match by disguising themselves as boys, and subsequent "viewing" of the game from a gated area outside the stadium. Sadly not available on Instant View, but still pretty awesome.

Be Like Others: So, one of the things that makes Iran's political history fascinating to me is stuff like this. Though gay relationships are illegal (and punishable by death) in Iran, sexual reassignment surgery was officially sanctioned by Khomeini in the early 80s. This documentary follows several individuals through the procedure. Some are supported by their families, some not; some are pressured into it by their significant (and same sex) others. It's a little more difficult to get ahold of, but fascinating.

So. Yeah! Most of those are easily located at your local library/bookstore/whathaveyou, if such things are relevant to your interests!

Dear Winona Kirk,

Is that even really your name, did you take your husband’s name? Did you have a big wedding, did you wear a big white dress? (Do they still do that in the future?) Did you meet in class, in a coffee shop, did he ask you for drinks? Did he send you roses every day until you said yes? Did you have a one night stand that didn’t end when it should have with a cadet willing to do the right thing?

Why were you on board the USS Kelvin? Did you miss your husband when he was away? Did you want to see the stars? Was it the Starfleet healthcare program? Were you a doctor, once upon a time? Were you lonely while your husband worked, or did you have friends among the crew members?

Did you love your baby boy? Was your son always unruly, did he always thumb his nose, or were you once allies? Did he leave a note when he left for the stars? Did you hear when he was made captain, were you proud?

Was your life defined by absent men, did you always keep a candle lit? Were there old loves and family friends willing to help you pick up the pieces and fill in the blanks? Were there right-now men instead of happily-ever-after men? Did your heart heal, did you find new love, did your son resent you for it? Did he notice?

Did you have a happy childhood? Did you love school, did you love boys, did you have any hobbies? Did you have a whole career waiting for you? Were you close with your parents, your siblings, your neighborhood chums? Did they go to the wedding?

Did your son ever ask about his father? Did you tell him?

Who wouldn’t want to hear your stories?

I've been working on some STXI meta for a while, which is OBVIOUSLY why I am posting THIS (you already know what it is) instead:

WHO DO YOU SHIP ME WITH? INTERNET. I need to know!

There were books in the kitchen and books in the lavatory. Books on the TV set and in the closet, small piles of books, tall piles of books, book thick and thin, books old and new - they welcomed Meggie down to breakfast with invitingly open pages; they kept boredom at bay when the weather was bad. And sometimes you fell over them.

- Inkheart

I feel you, Meggie. Also this book is pretty freaking awesome! I recommend it to eeeeeveryone. STORIES ABOUT STORIES, <33333333333. Also confidential to sainfoin_fields and also spectralbovine and toastandtea omg, I think this is also set in weirdo Germany!

Omg you guys. This last month has been RIDICULOUS. I don't know why May was Official Everyone Visits Month, but it totally was. There was not a single weekend when we didn't have guests! And obvs I love my family/friends and whatnot, but it was a bit much all at once. But now I can breeeeeathe and stop Hostessing at everyone so much, and stop missing out on dozens of exciting ST:XI things and every other flist post.

Also, ( that desktop meme! )

MAN. Yesterday started off really nice and ended with a ridiculously sudden-onset migraine that may or may not have caused ridiculously vivid dreams and me waking myself up talking all night. I am really not positive if that actually happened. Weird times.

Also, I think I might have watched the pilot of Glee at some point - they actually performed Rehab, right? That wasn't some other weird fever dream?

*

Speaking of work (not really) there's this one woman who I find generally unpleasant, but sometimes she says things and I just lol forever. Like, a couple people were talking about the whole Jon & Kate whatever and I was like, oh, yeah, that's been on the cover of Us Weekly for like the last month, and she goes OH, I NEVER READ THAT, in this ridiculously condescending voice and I was like - .........I don't either? Obviously? Based on how I was remarking on the covers WHICH ARE LOCATED ALL OF TEN FEET FROM YOUR FACE? BECAUSE THIS IS A BOOKSTORE? but then she went on with ALL OF THOSE ARE MADE UP. THAT'S WHY I ONLY READ PEOPLE MAGAZINE, 'CAUSE YOU KNOW THAT'S ALL TRUE. Utterly sincere. It was glorious.

*

I saw Terminator: Salvation over the weekend, and my thoughts can probably best be summarized by how I wrote it down as Star Trek in my day planner. Also, I miss SCC.

*

Sometimes I really enjoy reading the headlines of news articles the most - right now on BBC News, the top ten has all the obligatory Number of problem US banks soars, but also Why is there buttock stabbing in Rome?" I don't know, you guys. Why is there buttock stabbing in Rome. Is that the new "Is the Pope Catholic?" I don't even want to know what the article is actually about anymore. I think this is why I don't enjoy reading magazines, because you can't create your own nonsense.

*

Also, you guys. I tried Sports Night over the weekend. It's my first Sorkin show. Is it.........always like that? I think I laughed, like, twice. IT'S SO WEIRD. And the dialogue is deeply, deeply irritating.

Apparently I am only capable of posting once a week! Idk, it's my new contractual obligations, let's not question it.

Here are some items of interest:

- I went to see Star Trek again (of course I did) and I had forgotten so many things in a haze of denying my Quintosis! Like how hilarious I find it when Spock steals the ship and Nero realizes and yells "Spooooook!! SPOOOOOCK!!!" It totally sounds like "FUUUUCK!! SPOOOOOOOCK!" It's hilarious every time. There were probably other things but they are mostly lost in a Quintooooo fugue.

- Today I slept forever and then took K into the emergency room because he sprained his ankle yesterday! He didn't want to go, but it was RIDICULOUS looking. I also said that if he had to get a cast and couldn't play sports or anything for a while I would get him the first season of TNG, which:

-.........I will probably watching some of soon, since: yeah.

- Hospitals are weird.

- Man. I could have sworn I had more than this to discuss! I am mostly just very bored right now. Should I make some more Crack Detectives or something?

Information I am capable of processing at 7:30 a.m.:

- that I am awake
- that it is cold

Information I am incapable of processing at 7:30 a.m.:

-The Star Trek novelization audiobook (unabridged, 8.5 hours) is read by Zachary Quinto (QUINTOOOOOOOO)

Okay, you know what else I really liked? ( more trek! )

I've started doing this thing lately where when something irritates me, I start mentally composing lists, like Things I Would Appreciate if They Never Happened Again: Item One Why Do The Neighbors Run Up and Down the Stairs so Goddamn Much I Hate It, Also I Hate It When I Want to Paint My Nails When I'm on My Way Out to Do Errands Oh God I'm Doing It Again or Things I Really Like Do Not Include: Forgetting To Shave My Knees Now I Feel Weird Every Time I Scratch Them, and Also Why is There An Ant in the Trash Can, Sir Are You Lost and it kind of makes me feel like a crazy person, but also I can't stop doing it.

I do really want to paint my nails, though. Come on, this color is called PARTY IN MY CABANA, self, what are you waiting for.

It's spring! And you know what that means: television starts going CRAZY. And then a week later, I catch up on it. Foolproof.

SCC: jdksffkwf I've had days to recover and I still haven't. Just. Oh, SHOW. That was beautiful.

Bones: <33333333333333333333

HIMYM: How much do I love Marshall? THIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIS MUCH. Also, I've watched the tag like, a dozen times. "I think we should leave the building......This has happened before." (ps, remember that time HIMYM went all Much Ado About Nothing? me too.)

I've been a lot less grumpy since I've been able to decrease the frequency of my headaches - in short, I have shoulder problems, which can lead to my neck muscles getting stressed out, which triggers headaches, and.....now I work in a bookstore, so. I've been icing it after work, which seems to have helped matters a lot. It's much easier to be optimistic when I'm not waking up every morning with a headache.

ALSO: after talking yesterday to stars_like_dust about layout changing I got all antsy and then found MAYBE THE CUTEST THING EVER, as well as a new role model. Me and that chick, man. One day we'll stop falling over..

Ugh. I have been feeling really...idek, grumpy and overly stressed about work and nostalgia that mostly amounts to wanting to run away to the beach for the summer. Welcome to being an adult, self, the summer involves work too. For another...like three months. I'm still pouty tonight, prooooobably 80% because I had to work closing yesterday and then opening this morning, so I am very sleepy, but trying to catch up on things. Also maybe because I have eaten too many jelly beans.

Anyway, because I had forgotten how much I love RJD2 until I made this playlist, have some musics. One of the artists in there is a guy I went to high school with who is ridiculously talented, despite how jarring it is to hear a voice that I recognize singing or whatever (best endorsement ever?). The track on there is...uh, like, mixed audio sampling, or whatever you'd call it, though, so I find it easier to process.

P.s. also, I am awful at congratulatory cards and whatever. I'm just writing "Congratulations from the both of us" and calling it a day.

Aaaand...tropie out.

SO. YOU GUYS. First Contact was pretty freaking sweet!

( Some more breaking news )

I am about to embark on what I hope is an awesome adventure: just as soon as I put laundry in the dryer, I am starting up with Star Trek: First Contact! Current things I know about Trek:

1. There are like a frillion episodes
2. Kirk/Spock, like, invented slash fandom, or something
3. The Borg is scary (?)
4. Live long and prosper!
5. Sheldon can grow his own Leonard Nimoy.

So, yeah. Also, I have been ridiculously exhausted lately because being nice and friendly and helpful for hours apparently really takes it out of me, which is why I have been kind of...absent! As I work more, I'm becoming less anxious about stuff (like store policy or whatevs), which makes it less tiring, but it's still, you know. Work.

PS: The Number 1 Ladies Detective Agency is pretty much the most delightful thing in the universe, both the show and the books. After watching the show, I went to the library and picked up a bunch more (I read the first one years ago, but never got around to the other ones) and am now on the fifth. Wholeheartedly recommended.