I’m writing less than 24-hours since my last entry. Maybe there’s hope for me yet. I wouldn’t bet on it. I know me.
Last night I watched Artemis Fowl. See how cool I am? I watched it the day it was released. Well the day after it was released. Fine I’m not cool and I’m behind the curve. I didn’t even know that there was a series of books so I’m coming at this with no expectations. I know it was supposed to be a theatrical release and was switched to streaming because there are no theaters.
It did one thing that I have wanted fantasy to do for ages, have the magical world be modern. Harry Potter takes place in the present, but the Wizarding World is basically medieval. The most modern technology you see is a steam train. There is the ridiculous rule against enchanting muggle objects, why is it wrong to have a magical car but not a magical train? Rawlings mind made these artificial distinctions. Why didn’t Hogwarts have computers? They could have certainly used them instead of spending so much time checking every book in the library.
The magical real of Artemis Fowl is totally modern, in some ways futuristic. They have flying cars and commuter trains. They use ray guns. It doesn’t look at all medieval and it doesn’t look like human earth. It’s a civilization that’s involved parallel but in most ways independent of ours. Eoin Colfer and the designers of the film clearly thought things out instead of using preconceived notions.
The best thing I can say about it was that I planned on watching it in pieces and couldn’t. I needed to watch it straight through. I’m looking forward to further films in the series. I hope that doesn’t prove a death knell for it.
There are some things that reminded me too much of Harry Potter. Josh Gad who played Mulch Diggums, the giant dwarf, looked like Hagrid, the short giant. The troll, looked and moved like the troll from HP. Those are minor points. My main internal complaint is that the film’s McGuffin, the aculus was not developed enough. It isn’t clear what it does. Others are complaining that they couldn’t follow the plot. No matter, I give it two thumbs up. Watch it.
I got some validation on . Someone I don’t know made a comment praising it. That never happens to me. I wish I had a way of developing a readership outside of Facebook. I had regular readers on Diaryland. I write to fill internal needs but it’s nice to know that there are people out there that appreciate it.
I made poutine last night and I’m not sick today! Perhaps poutine is safe for me. I hope so, it’s so good and it’s so me. That’s amazing as it contains none of the four essential food groups, chocolate, coffee, peanut butter, and bacon. How would peanut butter on fries go? I’ll let you know. It should be good. I’ll try it as a dipping sauce. I hope I remember by the time I make dinner.
It might be a week since I called someone on the phone and talked to them. No, I spoke a bit to Allison one day but that was a quick call to get some information. I haven’t been a hermit as I’ve been getting calls from River and Katrina. I’ve made some calls but haven’t gotten any answers. I’m going to have to make a call today or the anxiety will build, and it will become even more difficult to make a call. I still have the fear that people don’t want me to call and don’t want to talk to me. Is it rational? Probably not but anxiety makes you irrational so it’s difficult to judge. I can always find evidence that people don’t want to talk. I’m sure everyone can do that and I’m sure that others share this anxiety. That’s why I feel happiest when there are people that I talk to every day and call me as often as I call them. It lessens though does not quell that anxiety. I’m observing my fears as I write this. I won’t share them as that makes things worse. The only reason I bring it up is so others can feel better about their own neuroses. You’re not alone.
Sunday is always a big streaming concert day for me. Today I’ve watched part of the Kennedys, most of The Young Novelists, and almost all of Chuck Brodsky. I haven’t watched Chuck before. I’ve only seen him live a few times which is just wrong. I love Chuck Brodsky. Not only does he write some of the best story songs but many of them are about baseball! There’s baseball paraphernalia behind him in the room he does the stream from. Sure, he’s a Phillies Fan, but that can be forgiven. What matters is that he loves baseball and writes great songs. He streams every week, great, now Sunday will have even more streaming. It’s a beautiful day. I could go outside. I could take be mailing postcards to voters in Georgia. I could phone a friend. I better do one of those things. Maybe I should just start by taking a shower. At least I blogged today. It doesn’t matter how big the steps are as long as they are in the right direction.
Wise Madness 