World Enough and Time

I spent a good part of the afternoon fixing my computer so it would work again. Thank goodness for Sheila, who both knew what the problem was, and was able to fix it in fewer hours than I would have thought possible.

Had a nice supper with maaseru - she supplied the chicken wings, I did the cooking. Then we watched Castle, episode 3x21, "The Dead Pool". I think I missed a couple of episodes before that... enjoyed it muchly.

Then we looked at an online ad for Viking River cruises in China. We want to go. How to find the money? There's gotta be a way...

Long day, busy day, good one. I finally managed to do all my exercises in about 65 minutes; I think I should simply allow about 75 minutes altogether, not to rush or skimp on the yoga. For a while, anyway.

After picking up my comics, I met lunacy_gal and maaseru for lunch at Ichibei. I had tempura as usual. Then went to Costco to buy food and a Christmas present; then I spent a while wrapping the presents that will be given out this weekend.

December: always busy.

Then in the evening, maaseru, Pim and I watched this week's episode of Castle: 3x10, "Last Call". Enjoyed it very much; there was some lovely acting by Nathan Fillion, though I didn't much like Beckett's hair this episode. I did like the setting and theme.

After that, Pim and I watched the ten-minute item on YouTube about The Game of Thrones. We pored over it for ages, then went to the Westeros website to see various screencaps, though the new trailer doesn't seem to have been screencapped yet.

It looks amazing. Especially towards the end, where we get 1-second glimpses of many characters and situations. The Clegane brothers look great, but I think the most impressive (in a long list of impressiveness) is Aidan Gillen as Peter Baylish. And little Arya looks wonderful.

Sean Bean, of course, is always impressive.

Bring it on! Winter is coming.

After picking up my comics at the Silver Snail, I met maaseru for lunch at Manchu Wok. I did something delightfully but almost embarrassingly fannish: I bought duplicate copies of Dark Wolverine #90 and Daken: Dark Wolverine #1, the most recent two issues with Daken in them, because I liked them so much, and I thought it's be good to have an extra reading copy of each, or that I could frame favourite pages and put them on my wall, or... something. Read them both over again. Loved the writing and art as much as before. I've been enthusiastic over various comics in the last few years (for Matt Fraction's wonderful work on Iron Man, for example) but haven't loved a comic so delightfully fannishly for a long time.

Then I was off to physio with no time to spare - Paratranspo was fifteen minutes early. My physiotherapist, Leslie, said that my progress on my arm straightening is slowing now as the scar tissue is hardening, and she's got me started on arm strengthening now. And raising my arm, which is difficult and painful and must be done. And I was using the machines, which is fun, but I can't take the machines home with me. Leslie also said not to use the glove or the foam for th lymphedema in my hand any more; they've served their purpose, and now I should just use the hand as much as possible. I think the lymphedema must be almost gone, except at the base of my fingers. Even my little finger is getting some sensation and motion back.

Leslie also said I will never, ever be able to hold more than five pounds with my left arm. The surgeon, before the surgery, said ten pounds would be my limit. I'll have to clarify with him... In any case, it doesn't sound like much. I am trying not to be depressed by this. I will cope. But no more Downward Facing Dog. Ever.

When I got home again, I did something I haven't done in years, maybe decades: I wrote a letter to Marvel Comics. I used to do it all the time. My first printed letter was in Fantastic Four #31, I think - thereabouts. maaseru urged me to write to them again, like I used to, to express my enthusiasm for Daken. So I did. Had to get her to print it on her printer, though, because my printer is still in her car and neither of us can lift it out. It's well over my ten-pound limit (not to mention my possible 5-pound limit) and I can't lift it with one hand even to put it on a cart.

I'm sending positive, healing thoughts to bunsen_h, who has just had surgery.

In the evening, maaboroshi came to my place and we watched the second episode of Lost Girl. It wasn't quite as good as the first episode, but it was still loads of fun; and Bo ( finally... ) And I more than ever like Ksenia Solo as Kenzi. In the same way I always loved Jubilee.

Then maaboroshi went off to do laundry and maaseru came by to watch Castle, and I thought maybe this episode (the first of third season) was the best yet. Heavy on the Castle/Beckett relationship, great characterization and style.

I like the way Castle ends their seasons. Two for two now.

( Lots of things... )

I watched this week's Castle episode tonight with maaseru, explodedteabag and Yolande. Loved it.

( Comments... )

I woke up at maybe 4 o'clock a.m., and couldn't get back to sleep. I blame the weather. The whole day was out of kilter - not bad, but slightly surreal. It threw me off to such an extent that I didn't do any exercises today, except for a very few back exercises - and I walked a lot, but that was just to get places. Ended up with a sore back for a while, after carrying groceries and library books. Hmmph.

There was a Staff Meeting at work - apparently they have them every month - and it turned out to be quite interesting.

Then, grocery shopping, and my weekly comics - there was only on thing on my subscription, so I picked up a couple of comics on spec. Then I went to the library to return a book that was due today (the Burne-Jones biography), and spent the evening lounging in my living room with maaseru, watching Inspector Lewis episode 3x01, "Allegory of Love". I need an episode guide; the DVD set doesn't seem to say what order the discs go in. This one was fun, and I was delighted that I couldn't guess the killer.

Then we watched Castle 2x19, "Wrapped up in Death", which hit a lot of notes I live - the Indiana Jones jokes, the Curse of the Mummy jokes, the museum setting. Reminded me of a Buffy episode.

I didn't want to nap (even assuming I could have found the opportunity) because I want to sleep well tonight. Let's hope.

Exhausting day! I managed to squeeze in a fifteen-minute nap before going to the chiropractor, and I slept like the dead. For fifteen minutes. It wasn't enough. Must go to bed early tonight, oh yes.

And I booked a rental apartment in Paris for the Dunnett gathering in October, for five of us. Le Spit, it's called. Exciting.

Baked chicken for supper for me, maaseru and explodedteabag, and then we all watched this week's episode of Castle, which was nicely suspenseful and terrific. explodedteabag thought there should be Beckett/Shaw femslash. Lots of action and suspense in this one. The villain reminded explodedteabag of the Trickster from Supernatural; he reminded me of Keanu Reeves in The Watcher. I found myself ( sorry )

Watched Castle tonight, episode 2x16, "The Mistress Always Spanks Twice" - which is a silly title, but the episode was fun. I am happy to say that I guessed (a) the victim's secret and (b) who killed her and why fairly early on. Smug, me.

Then we watched Johnny Weir: Pop Star on Ice, and loved it. That man looks as if gravity doesn't apply to him.

Went for a walk with Lisa at lunchtime, and bought some graphic novels at the anniversary sale at the Silver Snail - 30% off, so I bought a few I'd been wanting to buy, but couldn't afford at full price.

Studied French. I've signed up for French classes, so I figure I'd better prepare.

A few odds and ends...

( Castle... )

( Supernatural... )

( Hundred Dollar Baby... )

( What I Did For Love... )