I was going to write a post about how The Hunger Games (book, film) is a ripoff of Battle Royale (book, film). But plenty of people have gotten there before me, and as one critic points out, the quality of the later work is a different topic than whether or not it was influenced by the earlier work. This entry was originally posted at http://serenissima.dreamwidth.org/275366.html.

A few years ago, someone I know (I think it was daisho ) pointed out a link to a really good YouTube music video mashup called "Sweet Dream Are Made Of Seven Nation Army."  The video as well as the audio was interwoven very well.

I can't find that video clip anymore.  A search pulls up lots of more recent mashups of "Seven Nation Army" and "Sweet Dreams Are Made Of These," but not that terrific, original mashup.  What happened?  Has it been deleted?
This entry was originally posted at http://serenissima.dreamwidth.org/274802.html.

I'm thinking it's time for me to record my passwords in some safe place, so I don't have to keep resetting the ones I don't use very often.  Does anyone out there use password management software?  KeePass, anyone?  Or maybe some paid software?  What are the advantages over an encrypted spreadsheet file? This entry was originally posted at http://serenissima.dreamwidth.org/274306.html.

Towards the end of last December, haikujaguar posted a sort of read-your-own-fortune exercise using her Balance Cards system. I gave it a try and came up with a result that was surprisingly on target. Surprising, because the answers are considerably more specific than in the magazine quizzes I used to play with in junior high school, and I arrived at a very appropriate chronological order almost by random chance.

My reading was as follows.

Lesson to learn/Message/Issue from the Distant Past: The Engine. Directed purpose. Moving toward a specific destination. Choosing your destiny.

Lesson to learn/Message/Issue of 2011: The Rogue. Preservation of self. Taking steps to keep oneself safe. Putting oneself first, for good or ill.

Message to contemplate about the Present, Right Now: The Guardian. Protection of others. Looking outside the self. Being strong for others/the outside world.

Theme/Message to Ponder for 2012: Family. Ties we don't choose. People we deal with that we were born to, or cannot choose.

Something You Should Consider Working On: The Fallow Field. An open heart. Being willing to let things in. Being open to possibilities and people. This entry was originally posted at http://serenissima.dreamwidth.org/274040.html.

So. Today was Groundhog Day, and we've been here at my parents' house for something like six weeks.

Physically settling into the house was simple. Finding a rhythm to bring order to my days has been harder. Back at the moonbase, I had developed a routine based around the three-days-a-week playgroup schedule, sending Smash Boy to day care for half days about four days a week. I decided to move in with my parents, believing that my mother could provide at least as much childcare as I was getting from the day care facility at the moonbase, but it's not clear whether that's true. Rather than mind the kiddo for hours at a stretch, mostly my mother fills in for brief periods so I can, for instance, eat meals uninterrupted or take a shower. My parents' house is not childproofed as well as where we were living last, so the boy can get into more trouble. My father has very limited patience for his antics. My mother is more indulgent but still gets worn out keeping after him, and she's been having spells of not feeling well: she seems to nap almost as much as her grandson, and her diabetes is getting harder to control for some reason. (She says my brother and I were easier to manage at the same age, but perhaps 30 years puts a rosy glow on the memories.)

It has been hard for me to accept that my parents are old. I was disturbed when, years ago, they both started using pillboxes to keep track of their daily medications and vitamins. I'm coming to realize that living here is less about the free childcare and more about us all enjoying each other's company, since normally we don't see much of each other. I'm revising my expectations for this period of our lives. In truth, even going to the "Mommy and me" playgroup and perhaps meeting friends for lunch now and then, I would have been lonely out there, especially in the evenings with just my child and myself and the dog.

My week so far:

Monday I didn't do much; I was frustrated and sulky.

Tuesday I took Smash Boy to a little municipal airport that had a playground. The playground was small, but it offered a nice view of commuter planes taking off and landing. It was a worthwhile venture.

Wednesday's accomplishments were scheduling a veterinarian appointment for Mungo and raking some leaves in the back yard, so it will be easier to look out for the things Mungo drops.

Today is Thursday. It was a beautiful, warm, sunny day. Smash Boy woke up very late, around noon, but after he ate, we went to a park about 20 minutes' drive away — it'd be more like 10 minutes without traffic. The park is newly built last year; the playground is modestly sized but has some very nice play structures. There were lots of young children there, and Smash Boy had fun. He took his nap at 5 PM. I hope his schedule isn't screwed up too badly.

This entry was originally posted at http://serenissima.dreamwidth.org/273864.html.

Meme caught from stryck. This is one that took a moment's thought for me. Dreamwidth users can use their Dreamwidth usernames, of course!

I'm running a test to see who's reading my posts. So, if you read this, leave me a one-word comment about your day that starts with the last letter of your LJ USERNAME. Only one word please. Then repost so I can leave a word for you. Don't just post a word and not copy - that's not as much fun!

This entry was originally posted at http://serenissima.dreamwidth.org/273487.html.

Note to self:
Lady Speed Stick "Silky Chiffon" scent smells like honeydew melon.

This entry was originally posted at http://serenissima.dreamwidth.org/273360.html.

Life here is not humming along the way I would have liked.

I think I will aim to accomplish one thing every day besides simply seeing to the physical needs of my child and myself and washing dishes and laundry.

Today I baked a reduced-calorie pumpkin pie. Tomorrow I plan to take my son to a puppet show. After that, we'll see... I do have a fair amount on my to-do list, including writing a "proper" post.

This entry was originally posted at http://serenissima.dreamwidth.org/272720.html.

I don't want to pack. I am bad at packing. I am doing a terrible job. I don't have enough time left to pack everything. We won't be able to fit everything. We'll have to throw out hundreds of dollars worth of belongings.
 
For good or ill, it will all be over in a few days.
 
Not looking forward to explaining his daddy's departure to our son.
 
The doggy in the icon has already been sent on ahead of us, traveling with my awesome brother and his girlfriend. Thanks to you both, if you're reading this, you were both super helpful!


This entry was originally posted at http://serenissima.dreamwidth.org/272613.html.

Last Monday I made pork adobo in the slow cooker, and again the garlic reacted colorfully with the vinegar, turning a lovely shade of aqua. I thought you might like to see.

( big photo )


Here's the informative link.  This doesn't happen when I cook on the stove, probably because high heat destroys the blue compound or prevents it from forming.  By the time this dish was cooked, the color had faded to a dull green-beige. This entry was originally posted at http://serenissima.dreamwidth.org/271754.html.