Christmas party...

Today I went to see the movie Eragon with friends from the Ottawa Science Fiction Society: Pat, Sandi, Sheila, Harry, Lyn, Beulah, Glenn, Tasia, and Donna. I liked the movie more than I expected to - I think we all did. I particularly liked Jeremy Irons as the dragonrider/mentor of the boy hero. The hero reminded me of Heath Ledger and didn't much impress me, but I liked his dark-haired friend. We were picking out its visible influences: this from Star Wars, that from Lord of the Rings, something else from Dungeons and Dragons or Dragonriders of Pern. No, not a very original movie, but rather fun.

Then we went back to Pat and Sandi's place for supper and Christmas presents, and something remarkable happened.

My friends had taken up a collection at OSFS and collectively bought me two new young budgies.

So now Logan has two new friends. When I brought them in and put them in the second cage beside Logan, Logan let out a loud chirp of surprise. The new ones were nervous at first, but after about fifteen minutes started climbing and exploring, eating, singing, and looking around curiously.

Logan spent two days at maaseru's place while I aired my apartment out, hoping to eradicate any trace of Teflon that might have lingered. The place should be safe for them. I am trying not to worry. Sandi was very reassuring that the death of Remy was fate and chance, not my negligence and not my fault.

And for Christmas, Harry, bless his heart, gave me a frying pan with no Teflon on it. I will now start to rebuild my stock of pots and pans, not to mention cookie sheets and muffin tins.

After dinner and the present-opening, we all watched the 200th episode of Stargate, which apparently aired on local channels only recently. It was fun to watch with a loudly laughing fannish crowd. I'd actually seen about half of it last year, when maaseru and maaboroshi sat me down and showed me about half of it. Made me laugh. And I certainly love Claudia Black.