Weekend... so... close!

[annathepiper]

It seems Real is taking MLK Day off. Which means three-day weekend, which rather startles me, because I can't remember the last time I ever had MLK Day off. Not that I'll get paid for it, but hey, three-day weekend! And given how atrocious the weather has been around here lately, I'll easily blow a great deal of it with a blanket and hot tea and the laptop. Because ugh, rain. I have quite a bit of tolerance for the gray and rainy Seattle winters, but I figure when you start seeing special weather warnings about LANDSLIDES in your county of residence because the soil is so saturated that it's in danger of giving way in certain areas, it's about time for the rain to let up for a while.

There is a new Elfquest out finally, the first issue of the four-part miniseries Discoveries. I wish I could say I was interested in reading it, but Suntop never engaged me as a character, and I was even less impressed with Brill during her initial appearance in the second Wavedancers series. So I could honestly care less that these two are Recognizing. And since that's supposed to be the driving force of this story, well. Anybody on my Friends list read it yet? Any commentary on it one way or another?

In the land of Stuff I Actually Am Interested in Reading, I started finally on the Winter Moon anthology last night. Y'know, the one with a tale by Mercedes Lackey, one by Tanith Lee, and one by this chick... what's her name... OH YEAH! mizkit! ;) I only read the Lackey tale last night, and it wasn't my cup of tea unfortunately. Not badly written, but a bit too simplistic for my liking, and too... talky. I was very tempted to skip right to Kit's Banshee Cries, but I thought I'd better read it straight through and save her for last!

Tomorrow I must take my cat to the vet for a special checkup. Before that, though, there will be hot beverages consumed with technoshaman at Third Place Books, and after there will be POKER! Not that I'm likely to play, but it'll be fun to have folks hanging out regardless.

Can I go home and start writing yet?

Thursday evening miles: 1.85
Friday morning miles: 1.6
Miles out of Hobbiton: 617.6
Miles out of Rivendell: 159.6
Miles to Lothlórien: 304.4

Comments

[vtslick.livejournal.com]

My daughter has MLK off. Monday holidays can kill a working Mom, I tell ya! But fortunately, the Boys and Girls Club is open, so she can get her ya-ya's out there.

Real sounds like a pretty cool company to work for. Yay for Monday holidays and three-day weekends!

[annathepiper]

Eh, I'm only a contractor, so I'm not working for them directly, plus I'm not getting paid for it anyway because I've not been on the contract long enough. That said, a three-day weekend doesn't suck. Extra writing time, yay!

[vtslick.livejournal.com]

Contractors get paid, well, though they don't get benefits. But a Monday off with or without pay is a benefit in itself! Yay for extra writing time!! :)

[annathepiper]

Indeed. :)

Elfquest

[mathmuffin.livejournal.com]

Amy and I bought the first issue of Discoveries. That issue is mostly a re-introduction of the Wavedancers. Both incarnations of the Wavedancers seemed so marginal to the Elfquest vision, and the second incarnation of the Wavedancers seemed and still seems lackluster, so I would have been perfectly happy to have them all exiled to the might-have-been of the Worldpool (remember that old concept for Elfquest what-if stories?). The story looks like it will lead to a meeting between the Wavedancers and the Wolfriders, so at least we will see more of the Wolfriders.

Of the siblings Suntop and Ember, Suntop had been studious and Ember adventurous, so Ember was the more interesting one. In later stories Suntop could not shake his many years on the sidelines: he was stuck being dull. Discoveries is making an effort to break him out of that mold, even to the point of renaming him Sunstream in honor of a previous adventure. I don't have much hope of the Discoveries story being great, but the series does have the potential of making Suntop a character as interesting as Cutter and Leetah's son should be.

Erin Schram

Re: Elfquest

[annathepiper]

The story's definitely going to lead to a meeting between the Wavedancers and the Wolfriders; that's part of the overall point, yeah. Unfortunately though that's just not terribly interesting to me. I mean, we've seen the whole "elf of one tribe Recognizes elf in a stranger tribe and sets the pace for interactions between them" thing. Twice now.

I do remember the Worldpool stories, yeah. And I'm with you on how the second round of Wavedancers really didn't ever particularly click.

Suntop's being on the sidelines and his studious nature, at least for me, has nothing to do with why he was never as interesting to me as Ember. I can get just as interested in a character with a quieter nature as I can in an adventurous character--it all depends on how the character is written. And Suntop just hasn't been written. That's the problem. We haven't seen anything focus on him, anything that shows us how his head works or how he's dealing with growing up. Or how he's dealing with a sister who's a lot more like their father. Or how he feels about the Palace. Or how he feels about Timmain.

I get that the point of Discoveries is to give the character a chance to get that camera time. It's just that to date, I haven't had any reason to be invested enough in the character to care. And this particular storyline doesn't sound like it's offering me anything terribly new or interesting enough to help balance that out.

Now all this said, there is a comic store down in the shops I'll be going to in a little while, so maybe I'll wander in there and see if they have an issue I can browse. I'm not saying I'm completely opposed to reading the story, just that so far I'm not hearing any reason that I really need to rush right out and buy a copy of the issue right now. ;)

[ii2none59.livejournal.com]

I thought I heard that Seattle was now on Day 27 of continual rain??? Good grief! Hang in there now!

Well, MLK Day is my normal work day so I have to work it regardless. I guess I could have taken it off, but that would have left one person on late watch and I'd have needed to either use a vacation day or a personal day, so it's not worth it. Besides...it wouldn't have felt like a "real" 3 day weekend since I go back to work tonight.

Sorry -- not familiar with either Elfquest or Discoveries so I can't comment one way or the other.

I will tell you though that the other night...Oh! It was Wednesday night, there were 3 of us working and we spent pretty much the entire night watching Sci-Fi channel! That included one of those 'infamous' miniseries of theirs along with 2 back-to-back Twilight Zone episodes. And I saw from a commercial that they're doing their own version of War of the Worlds! How many versions of that do we need?? LOL (My mother gave Tom's version **).

[annathepiper]

That's about right, yeah. It's not been quite nonstop; we have had very occasional breaks where it hasn't actually been raining. But we've had that many consecutive days during which it's rained at one point or other during the day in general. Bleah.

Yargh, another War of the Worlds? NOT necessary, indeed!

[ii2none59.livejournal.com]

Well, that much rain gets to where you're wondering about building an ark and collecting animals two by two! I tried to call my sister last night (she and her family are up around Portland) to see how it was their way. I know when we all talked a few weeks back, my brother-in-law said people were getting out the snow chains! And heard something on the news about a volcano erupting in Alaska and there was ash so heavy Alaska Airlines canceled some flights.

We dodged the bullet as far as the trace to 2" of snow Louisville was due to get, but I can't imagine us going the entire winter without any. Of course when we do, it'll probably want to play catchup and we'll end up getting 10" in one night! Ugh.

As for Sci-Fi's War of the Worlds -- at first I thought I was imagining things and it was just another 'aliens attack Earth' sort of deal, but nope, they announced it as their original War of the Worlds *sigh* Sort of like me hearing about a Poseidon Adventure sequel, then one shows up on NBC (did poorly in the ratings) and I learn that wasn't the only version made -- there'll be a theatrical release this summer!

No wonder I can't get my sequel to Master and Commander! *Sniff*

[annathepiper]

Today we actually have blue bits of sky out there, and it's stopped raining for once. Whether this will actually keep up through the rest of the day remains to be seen. The weird part is, I heard rumblings of SNOW in Issaquah last night, which isn't too far away from the Seattle area. And we actually have snow mentioned in our local ten-day forecast, but I'll believe THAT when I see it.

Yeah, I've been reading about that volcano going off.

*shudders* If there's anything we don't need a sequel to, it's The Poseidon Adventure! Aigh!

Though now that the news is coming out that Russell and Dani are having a second kid, I suspect that may also contribute to us not getting any more Jack and Stephen for a while... ;)

[ii2none59.livejournal.com]

I have to ask: is there anywhere to put all this moisture??? I know that a few winters ago, we had six to ten inches of snow, then that started melting just as we got a few inches of rain. The ground was in terrible shape as it couldn't absorb all the melting snow and rain, and the Ohio started overflowing its' banks. Snow you don't need just yet.

Well I'm with you. If I was going to do sequels, Poseidon Adventure wouldn't even be in my top 100! Last night during a slow time, I was reading the last known rumors about Indiana Jones 4, Alien 5 and of course the much-threatened Gladiator 2, which will have no gladiators and be about political intrigue and no Maximus. I don't want to think about any of them! LOL And I don't care if Ridley is threatening to direct G2 and A5! *g*

I just heard the news about Russell and Dani myself. Wonderful news indeed, and thinking about to his concern about her being jostled by the stupid press after his court case concluded, now we can understand why. Oh well...Here's hoping if there is an M&C sequel...well, I have a brilliant premise in mind based on several of the books. I just need someone in power to give it a listen! *bg*

[annathepiper]

Indeed, we are running out of places to put all the wet. Hence all the flood warnings we've been having. A lot of the local rivers and other large bodies of water have overflowed their banks. -.-

A fifth Aliens movie? *shudder* Definitely don't need that.

But oh, oh, oh, the need for another M&C movie, it is great. Also, I need to buy the seventh Aubrey-Maturin, now that I've finally read The Fortune of War. Gotta knock a few more books off my To Read shelf, though!

[ii2none59.livejournal.com]

I was thinking about Seattle again just last night because it was listed on Travelocity as one of those nice places to hit for a weekend. I've only been through the area once and that was a few weeks after 9/11 when I went to Vancouver. I flew into SEA, rented a car (thankfully they had cars available for rent -- remember a load of them were all over the country due to people renting them for one-way after 9/11), and drove up to Vancouver. Great drive -- I think I was there in about 3 hours. It's hard to do the "Oooo...isn't that the " when you're zooming north on the expressway! LOL I'd love to see it again someday -- when it's dryer *g*

Well, I'm hoping that the fifth Alien movie will just be one of those things they threaten us with but it never comes about. *pause* Okay...I can HOPE can't I? LOL

Oh great! You've read The Fortune of War! Fantastic. So you got to finally read the infamous weevil joke too! That was one of my favorite moments -- well, that and when the wombat is eating the braid on Jack's hat and Stephen comes in. Brilliant. I can sooooooo see that in a movie, can't you?

[annathepiper]

Seattle up to Vancouver is indeed a nice drive. Oddly enough, I'd done that very drive just a few days before 9/11, because I'd gone up there for a Great Big Sea show on the 8th. It's kind of neat and strange how Vancouver reminds me eerily of Seattle, except it's bigger. :)

I have indeed now read the infamous weevil joke. I can totally see the wombat moment as well. And Paul Bettany protesting to Russell that he has debauched his sloth. :D

[ii2none59.livejournal.com]

I think it's going to be up to me to hit mega-mega-bucks in the Powerball lottery, have enough to buy a majority in Fox Studios -- or at least to go to them and say I'm going to produce the friggin' sequel...then throw my script on the table, tell them it's been analyzed by every POB expert I know (i.e.: fans of the books and fans of the movie LOL)...It is ready to go. It'll be Fox's prestige movie. And if they refuse...then I move in and take over the studio in a coup! *bg* (How peaceful it is depends on THEM! LOL)

Produce the movie myself...of course after talking privately with Russell, Paul and Peter Weir. They read the script...love it. Movie is filmed. The promotion is designed by those of us that didn't think Fox did a very good job on M&C. The movie garners great reviews and wins the best pic Oscar and makes big bucks worldwide.

This is what happens when I get way too imaginative. *g* Anyway...I love Vancouver, so some day what I need to do is fly into Seattle for a day or two, check it out, then drive to Vancouver or take the shuttle boat.

[annathepiper]

Now if I'd been having that fantasy, I would also be throwing in Great Big Sea to do all the shanties sung on board the ship for the soundtrack, and a big ol' wrap party involving GBS showing up for a live concert to perform WITH Russell. ;)

And Seattle->Vancouver sounds like a plan to me! If you ever do that, you'll have to let me know!

[ii2none59.livejournal.com]

Oh GBS would work too! *g*

And if I do the Seattle>Vancouver thing in the future, I'll let you know.

[annathepiper]

Yay! Likewise, if solarbird and I make it back to Kentucky any time soon and Louisville in particular. Our finances have been so weird the last couople of years that I'm not sure when that'd be yet, but it'd be neat to meet up. :)

[ii2none59.livejournal.com]

How long did you say it'd been since you've been back to Louisville?

I know what you mean about finances. I've decided that this year I'm not taking any major trips, so that'll give me a chance to do some catching up.

[annathepiper]

.... gosh. It's been a while. We were last in Kentucky in general in Christmas 2004, and before that, it would have been my dad's funeral in 2001. We didn't go to Louisville then, either. I think the last time we were in Louisville itself must have been the previous Christmas, 2000.

[ii2none59.livejournal.com]

Good grief. That was a busy year for me...2000. I went to England for the first time...sold my home...moved...was trying to go to school part-time and ended up having to drop out of the class as I couldn't concentrate. Talk about a memorable year.

[annathepiper]

2000 for me was best remembered as the year we went to Hawaii over the summer. ^_^ That was nine kinds of fun!

[ii2none59.livejournal.com]

Haven't been to Hawaii yet. Maybe someday *bg*

[annathepiper]

Highly, highly recommended of course. I want to go back and see more than we were able to see before--we were just on Oahu and it'd be neat to see some more of the islands.

[ii2none59.livejournal.com]

I think I got "island burnout" a few years ago after my cruises, cause let's face it, many of them are the same islands over and over again, especially if you take the "major" ships. I think I would like to just go to an island and stay there for a few days, not a few hours because I want to see things other than a beach and the shopping areas! I've been to Puerto Rico (did stay there for 2 nights prior to a cruise so that gave me a nice feel), the US Virgin Islands (but would like to see the British ones some day), Antigua, Martinique (didn't like at all), Barbados (a favorite), St. Martin/St. Marteen and the Bahamas. A cruise is nice if you just want to touch base, relax, get a nice feel, but I know the only real way of learning about an island is to actually visit one.

[annathepiper]

I'm with you--which is why I'm glad we did spend a whole week on Oahu and look at a bunch of neat stuff there. We went to see pineapple fields and had fresh pineapple (VERY tasty); we went to a really nifty coral reef preserve where they allowed snorkeling (which I'd never done before); we drove all around the island to look at the north shore in general. And we did beaches and touristy knickknacky things, sure, but that wasn't all!

I want to go back at some point and see the Big Island, and have a look at the volcanos. From a safe distance. ;)

[ii2none59.livejournal.com]

One day I may hit an island again, but I've had too much fun going up to Vancouver BC and of course my beloved England.

I know that after Master and Commander was released, I started thinking about one of those cruises where you take a sailing-type ship, like Windbreaker or I think it's called Windstar. The latter is pricey but the other line's not too bad, so maybe someday. I would like to see the British Virgin Islands one day -- like I was saying -- and the bigger ships don't visit there...at least they didn't, I think because so many of these liners are like small cities now.

[bloody-keri.livejournal.com]

It's unbelievable that the West Coast is flooding while we're 25 inches below the drought line! Why can't nature be a bit more balanced? We've been doing freakin' rain dances over here. This morning we got the first tiny bit of rain we've had in MONTHS, and it was in and out before we had time to wet our tongues.

[annathepiper]

Yeah, it's pretty wacky. Here we are having LANDSLIDES up here, and mud flows, and other such unpleasant side effects of so much rain, and you guys are parched. :| The weather's just been too damned out of whack for the last many months. I hope things settle out soon.

[otoselkie.livejournal.com]

(Turning up very late re: Elfquest).

I enjoyed seeing Wendy's art again, but was underwhelmed mostly because of the Wavedancers, who I always felt were unnecessary and over-blown. I'm also slightly lost, since I skipped Forevergreen after the first RC book (and thus most of Sunstream's story), and the Wavedancers have progressed quite a bit since what I saw. What I'm really looking forward to is when the Wolfriders and Wavedancers meet, also seeing more of the old characters. (I hear Strongbow and Moonshade's daughter will be showing up. While having a character who is described as 'cutest' and 'funniest' sets off all sorts of mental alarm bells for me, I do want to see what she's like).

[annathepiper]

Huh, okay, I'm curious to see what a new child of Strongbow's and Moonshade's is like, indeed. Does she have a name yet? She didn't seem to have one as of The Searcher and the Sword.

I still need to make some time to go find the actual first Discovery issue, myself.

[otoselkie.livejournal.com]

She does have one, but they're not telling us what it is yet. See Wendy's column (http://www.elfquest.com/edits/WendyWords_01_13_06.html) for what we've been told. It's a couple of paragraphs down, just after the bit about the advertisements. What I'm interested in is how this youngest child relates to Crescent (I was under the impression that she was somehow Crescent reborn, but the character description seems to suggest otherwise).

[annathepiper]

Huh. I'm not sure if I approve of withholding the name of the cub just for surprise's sake--I mean, how big of a surprise can the name BE? :)

Unless of course they are trying to set up that the cub is Crescent 2.0. I hadn't gotten an impression of this... though it would be interesting to see if that's possible. The idea of an elf being reborn has been played with before in fandom--I know of at least a couple of instances where players on Two Moons MUSH played around with how to pull off such a thing.