I just got back from a short business trip to London, where I managed to fit in a quick trip to St. Paul’s to check out some of the things referred to in Connie Willis’ Blackout and All Clear books, which I recently read and enjoyed – time traveling historians stuck in the Blitz. I am glad to get back, because I didn’t manage to load BRM on my Kindle before I left, and I left those characters in precarious places on my laptop…..
A kind, compassionate, readerly and creative lot, and all over the globe—I might’ve known: you’ve been as snowed-under as I’ve been. I’m finally making progress—finally! I’ve never hit such a distracted, can’t-focus phase as this fall: not that I was gaining ground, but that there was some new overwhelming emergency or job-to-do every second, and the book was getting less mental time than I needed to give it. But now all’s well. I’ve learned that writing certain areas of the book when your head isn’t together only makes problems you’ll have to unravel before you can make any progress. But it finally feels ‘together’ and I’m gaining ground.
The bathroom still has a 4×5 hole in the shower wall and the marine tank is a mess to look at, but hey, the corals are happy and I got the waterfall tank drained. Glug.
We hope to get with the skating crew for lunch today. We’ll see if that works out.
My mother’s long illness got worse in Sept. and she passed away in Oct. Dealing with that. Trying to resume some sort of normal routine after long-term crisis mode. I am still at red-alert every time the phone rings.
I’m working 2 jobs, 1 full and 1 part-time.
I’m reading your posts daily, and enjoying your updates. Also I have been reading quite a few books in the last month.
Now, I’m trying to get ready for Thanksgiving and I’m so glad that my son will be home from college for a week.
My sympathies as well. I went through this process with the loss of my father and brother both this summer and now that it’s over still find my heart starts racing when I get a phone call after 8:00pm or from the area code where my parents live.
Thanks for your condolences smartcat, warriorofworry, and jschmitt. It’s been much harder than I thought. And, jschmitt, my sympathies to you on two such losses in a short time. You know what I mean about the phone! If I see their area code even now, I have that panic moment.
Not so sure I am missed, since I am not really present/vocal, but I’m here too !
Busy with problems (technical and personal alike) and preparing my daughter’s 5th birthday …
Went yesterday to Disneyland Resort(the european one) with her … She liked having “Stitch” wishing her a happy birthday but was, if not resentfull at least not quite so happy after having been taken with us in the “Twilight Zone Tower of Terror”…
I’m new here….but I discovered this blog when obsessing about the next Cherryh book! I’ve read them all (starting back in the 70’s) and am currently updating my library with hardcover versions of the Foreigner series (although the Chanur books are my favorites – I already have all of those in hardcover). Reading….doing jigsaw puzzles….getting my plants in order to survive an anticipated SNOW winter in the PNW…playing with killifish and counting the baby clown killies….wondering if it’s time to bring the shubunkins, sarasas and koi inside…lugging all the potted fuchsias & epimediums into the garage…learning more about inflammatory syndrome/diet/better foods to eat for weight control. After having an IgG antibody panel done to help identify potential food triggers for inflammation, I’ve gone the anti-inflammatory diet route with an emphasis on regaining leptin sensitivity. Lost 32 lbs since mid-May and now have no debilitating pain flares from the mystery syndrome no rheumatological tests could label. And appetite changes suggest that I’ve regained my leptin sensitivity. Pulled on size 10 pants this morning (yay). Was in size 16s. Yay for organic foods!
Making minor progress on the archeological dig to find the floor. Sorting by size, season, style, why-did-I-buy-that?, CHARITY!, recycling and trash. (This includes the yarn/craft supplies and books that were never read.) I stack neatly and three cats scatter it, with help from 60 lbs. of dog. Trying to use up some odd yarn knitting really funky scarves for teens.
It’s started to snow again—just a gentle, almost invisible sifting. But it’s settling in for days of snow. None of which will be deep. Mt Spokane’s ski operation is gearing up in good hopes…
Ourselves, we stay to the rink ice!
Been working and getting to the “to do” list that only seems to get longer, not shorter, without concerted effort. Next week I’m on vacation, but working at the local Arboretum to prepare for the annual luminary walk. Learning bellydance, dealing with a dog with a broken toe (finally healed up and ready for short walks), and starting my hubby’s family tree (while my own is unfinished) have been major time sinks. Must set aside time to finish “Faery in Shadow” and start “Rusalka.” I’ve read less this year than any, I think.
Still waiting for my library to finish with repairs — we’ve been closed since February and are now on Month 10 of what was supposed to be a 3 month repair job (echoes of Gilligan’s Island here!) Every time they think the a/c has been repaired, another component breaks and they have to hunt through couch cushions and pockets for enough spare change to pay for repairs. I’ve been farmed out to 2 other library branches in the meanwhile.
No home repair this week, but I did just pick up a small secondhand chest freezer that fits nicely in the laundry room. I’m planning to stock up on the turkeys that go on sale this time yearly. Where else can you get 45 pounds of meat for a $10 bill?
And it rained last night for the first time in [i]months[/i]. It brought a weird phenomena too: due to the salty dust that falls out on everything, if it hasn’t rained for a while, the first winter shower will make any potential electrical shorts activate, especially on power lines and transformers. About 2:30 a.m. last night I woke up to that unmistakeable ozone smell, and wandered through the house to try to track it down. The transformer across the street was buzzing merrily away and the a/c fan must have drawn it in, making my subconscious alarms go off. At least nothing in the house was shorting out that I could find. Whew!
I stop by most days to see what you’re up to, and then check out Jane’s blog too! Sometimes I just don’t have anything to add to the discussion. I’m also having a wildly discombobulated and unfocussed month, nothing really wrong, just can’t seem to get my mental feet under me. Work, laundry, dishes and family issues all seem to pile up, regardless of how fast I run (or am run by, LOL)the hamster wheel.
So of course, I decided to do Nanowrimo this year. (I love Nano – it has taught me to be a much better reader.)
Finally feeling close to my old self after the last two months. I never seem to notice how rotten I have felt until I am feeling better. Am now dealing with life’s general chaos. No snow to speak of since the little bit we had at the beginning of Nov. The last few days have been real Indian Summer, which traditionally happens after frost. The kittehs have settled in to watch the birdie squirrel show on the deck. I am finally getting back into my studio and a better eating plan.
I’m going to start putting up Christmas decorations Thanksgiving week end.
I just purchased Chernevog after having reaf Rusalka a few months ago. I have all the time in the world to read now that I am on dissability for my back. I must say that getting back in the inner dialogue of wishing and not wishing and the panic of such thoughts is nearly overwhelming. So cheers for making me feel as overwhelmed as Sasha.
I’m still here! Just been really busy at work recently. Trinkett is hanging in there… seeing her now it’s hard to think that she ever had 4 legs. She’s been put on muscle relaxants for the next week since she has been overdoing it, and is paying for it with some really sore muscles. Katie continues to progress. Did a private session with her yesterday in order to get useful tips for handling her on leash, which went very well. I’ve learned about the importance of deep tissue massage and full-body hugs (both meant to calm her down, since she gets a little bit panicky in strange situations). But she shocked me and the trainer by actually eating a piece of cheese out on the sidewalk. So we continue to make progress, and I have new tools to use.
And I have been dealing with a mechanics lien. Had a roof put on this place shortly after I bought it, and the supplier says that the contractor didn’t pay him. I can only say that mechanics liens are evil, and it’s very frustrating that, legally, there’s no real defense against them in this situation. “I paid the contractor” does not stop them from putting a lien on your house. But that’s settled… now I just have to get the money from the roofer. Who actually seems like a decent sort… I think he just ran into cashflow problems. Or the supplier is evil and is suing for money they don’t deserve. It’s no longer my problem to figure out!
Ah, a signal for us lurker to de-lurk! *salutes* yes, ma’am, checking in, ma’am!
I hoped to do NaNoWriMo this month, but I had a hysterectomy and my gall bladder removed… yeah, two for one, yippee, uh huh. Anyway, as I recover, my energy levels are slowly increasing – along with my desire to eat, which is good, since I’d been down to mostly just a little mashed potatoes due to the gall stones. I lost quite a bit of weight because of this, but boy, it wasn’t worth it.
Maybe I’ll do a bit on Nano next week, but 50k is totally out of the question – I’ve probably got about 3k so far.
Mostly I’ve been reading whatever I can download to my Nook and sleeping. Now I think I’ll go take a nap.
Hope everybody has a nice Thanksgiving!
So-so news for my Grandmother: After an exhausting day for me and probably many times that for her, the end to a hectic hard week — the gastroenterologist was more concerned about another issue than what we brought her in for. However, he didn’t recommend we go to the hospital, so she’s still home for now. Monday, she gets a blood test to see if she’s rehydrating well enough. If those results are good, probably we’ll know Tuesday, and yes, that means I will be getting Thanksgiving supplies last minute, possibly Tuesday afternoon. I will go with something very simple, and will likely forego a favorite or two because of it, deferring those until Christmas. But we’ll have a holiday meal if she gets to stay at home. Got a couple of good suggestions to pursue from a friend, who swears they are no cost and not dependent on insurance, though my Grandmother has good (OK, decent) insurance. Will look into that during the work week; can’t do anything now anyway. Grateful for the attempted helpful advice.
I am finally at my home for about 24 hours. I am not going to feel guilty for not doing a blasted thing. I am going to relax, read or write or watch some video and even nap/sleep. If I do any work, it will be a bonus, but I will *not* let myself feel guilty. (Hear that, work-guilt complex? Take a hike.)
During the week, I had tried to watch a movie (iTunes) but was paying no attention and stopped it less than 20 minutes through. Might watch that.
Everything lately seems to be “I, me, my/mine” and “we, us, our/ours.” It is as though the rest of the world were some far-off land that I venture into for a few hours each week, and then, only of necessity. The internet is about the extent of any social life, and…though I am by nature independent or a loner and introverted…this is no way to make new friends, find a love, relax, or (gasp) get paying work so as not to eat up my savings. (Work? Job? I have a full-time job now, caregiving and just taking care of me/us. …And that cannot hold; it cannot. …But if her health continues this gradual slide, well, it may even out, but I don’t expect it to be in my favor. That is months away, at least, so perhaps things will somehow improve. I just don’t see how yet, without some hard times ahead, money-wise. Emotionally…the emotional toll is a given.)
—–
I’d said earlier I’ve been watching Bleach (via download) since CJ suggested it, and that I couldn’t put my finger on why it (and Saiyuki) appeal to me. I have liked Cowboy Bebop and a few others in the past, but this is different. I think I have a better handle on why, now. Bleach and Saiyuki are different in storytelling style. Plot elements seem to be loosely connected at times and are introduced without preable, sort of the “stuff happens, get used to it” random approach to plot. That is either (1) real-world, rather than literary structuring; (2) we’re makin’ it up as we go along, sweetheart (the Indiana Jones school of planning?); (3) these are really aimed at the teen/youth audience and tailored to that expectation, though intended for some appeal to adults too; or (4) it is quite simply a cultural matter of how stories are structured, what the authors and audience prefer in making up stories. Likewise for character introductions and interactions and development. There is more depth than you’d think, at first blush, but it’s all very loose, from my impressions of it. It’s entertaining and I’m still watching both shows. (And when I looked up Bleach, I discovered it is a *huge* international bestseller, not just in Japan. Wow.) It is, as near as I can tell, like much of the other anime/manga I’ve seen (though Cowboy Bebop is an exception) a mix of the modern, the author’s own imagination, and old traditional elements from Japanese history, storytelling, and religion and folklore. (I am no expert on Japanese culture; it’s all new to me, exotic, and that is part of the appeal, most definitely.) Japanese manga seem quite happy to mix liberally any social elements from throughout history, together with fantasy and imagination, a zany, sly sense of humor, and the author’s own imagination or creative genius. They also seem to mix things which Americans would usually deem too “adult” for kids/teens, though that (dumbing it down, moralizing, or infantilizing of young people) seems to be recent in American or Western / European culture, to be honest, except for the tendency to moralize. I had to blink when I realized what was the subtext in one scene in Saiyuki, which later contributed to a villain’s downfall; but that was not the main point of the story, at all.
I know that trying to understand Japanese culture, given only a few anime/manga series is just as incomplete and inaccurate as trying to understand American culture from our movies and music videos. Hah! Yet it says *something* about both cultures. I’m not sure what, though, haha. Still, it’s interesting. What I’ve found most interesting is how this window into Japanese culture has parallels with the strengths and weaknesses of European (especially British) and American culture. England and Japan: two island kingdoms with some historical and cultural parallels. How strange to hold up a mirror and see both, whether the good points or the blemishes. I’m also struck by parallels with what I know of Greek and Roman culture. I suppose it points out that we’re all human and more alike than we like to think, for better or worse. All in all, it’s sure interesting.
One thing I’ve found curious is that the Japanese put great stock in their authors and illustrators / artists. Anime and manga have widespread followings and they expect serious thought as well as fun and excitement in their entertainment. That’s refreshing. It would seem they also have a different take on what youth can handle in concepts and responsibilities, which is also refreshing.
I’m developing a real interest in Asian and Indian cultures, over the past few months.
Thanks much for the introduction, it has proven more enlightening than I’d expected for some entertainment.
Oh — and possibly of interest, I’ve had a neat idea that might result in a mahen script, which I hope to sit down and try out (sketching or calligraphy) soon. I’ll seek input from CJC (hi!) and from Spence and Vetch, who have some keen interests there in Chanur Saga and Foreigner languages. The mahen script idea starts from a wild inspiration with Devanagari as a jumping off point only. 😉
So, that’s what’s on my mind (or part of it) this week.
I just got back from a short business trip to London, where I managed to fit in a quick trip to St. Paul’s to check out some of the things referred to in Connie Willis’ Blackout and All Clear books, which I recently read and enjoyed – time traveling historians stuck in the Blitz. I am glad to get back, because I didn’t manage to load BRM on my Kindle before I left, and I left those characters in precarious places on my laptop…..
A kind, compassionate, readerly and creative lot, and all over the globe—I might’ve known: you’ve been as snowed-under as I’ve been. I’m finally making progress—finally! I’ve never hit such a distracted, can’t-focus phase as this fall: not that I was gaining ground, but that there was some new overwhelming emergency or job-to-do every second, and the book was getting less mental time than I needed to give it. But now all’s well. I’ve learned that writing certain areas of the book when your head isn’t together only makes problems you’ll have to unravel before you can make any progress. But it finally feels ‘together’ and I’m gaining ground.
The bathroom still has a 4×5 hole in the shower wall and the marine tank is a mess to look at, but hey, the corals are happy and I got the waterfall tank drained. Glug.
We hope to get with the skating crew for lunch today. We’ll see if that works out.
My mother’s long illness got worse in Sept. and she passed away in Oct. Dealing with that. Trying to resume some sort of normal routine after long-term crisis mode. I am still at red-alert every time the phone rings.
I’m working 2 jobs, 1 full and 1 part-time.
I’m reading your posts daily, and enjoying your updates. Also I have been reading quite a few books in the last month.
Now, I’m trying to get ready for Thanksgiving and I’m so glad that my son will be home from college for a week.
Regrets on the loss of your mother, Empty Nest. Even if an illness has been long term and death expected, loss of a loved one is never easy.
I concur – my sympathy for your loss.
My sympathies as well. I went through this process with the loss of my father and brother both this summer and now that it’s over still find my heart starts racing when I get a phone call after 8:00pm or from the area code where my parents live.
Thanks for your condolences smartcat, warriorofworry, and jschmitt. It’s been much harder than I thought. And, jschmitt, my sympathies to you on two such losses in a short time. You know what I mean about the phone! If I see their area code even now, I have that panic moment.
My sympathies to you and your family too.
Hugs, and here’s hoping for a happy reunion with your son. Eat lots, talk some, and do fun things.
Not so sure I am missed, since I am not really present/vocal, but I’m here too !
Busy with problems (technical and personal alike) and preparing my daughter’s 5th birthday …
Went yesterday to Disneyland Resort(the european one) with her … She liked having “Stitch” wishing her a happy birthday but was, if not resentfull at least not quite so happy after having been taken with us in the “Twilight Zone Tower of Terror”…
I’m new here….but I discovered this blog when obsessing about the next Cherryh book! I’ve read them all (starting back in the 70’s) and am currently updating my library with hardcover versions of the Foreigner series (although the Chanur books are my favorites – I already have all of those in hardcover). Reading….doing jigsaw puzzles….getting my plants in order to survive an anticipated SNOW winter in the PNW…playing with killifish and counting the baby clown killies….wondering if it’s time to bring the shubunkins, sarasas and koi inside…lugging all the potted fuchsias & epimediums into the garage…learning more about inflammatory syndrome/diet/better foods to eat for weight control. After having an IgG antibody panel done to help identify potential food triggers for inflammation, I’ve gone the anti-inflammatory diet route with an emphasis on regaining leptin sensitivity. Lost 32 lbs since mid-May and now have no debilitating pain flares from the mystery syndrome no rheumatological tests could label. And appetite changes suggest that I’ve regained my leptin sensitivity. Pulled on size 10 pants this morning (yay). Was in size 16s. Yay for organic foods!
Congrats on the weight loss and even more on stopping your pain. What is an IgG antibody panel and what foods did it indicate caused you problems?
Making minor progress on the archeological dig to find the floor. Sorting by size, season, style, why-did-I-buy-that?, CHARITY!, recycling and trash. (This includes the yarn/craft supplies and books that were never read.) I stack neatly and three cats scatter it, with help from 60 lbs. of dog. Trying to use up some odd yarn knitting really funky scarves for teens.
Been on a business trip to Canada, and the general holiday season business. But not to worry, I am keeping tabs.
It’s started to snow again—just a gentle, almost invisible sifting. But it’s settling in for days of snow. None of which will be deep. Mt Spokane’s ski operation is gearing up in good hopes…
Ourselves, we stay to the rink ice!
Been working and getting to the “to do” list that only seems to get longer, not shorter, without concerted effort. Next week I’m on vacation, but working at the local Arboretum to prepare for the annual luminary walk. Learning bellydance, dealing with a dog with a broken toe (finally healed up and ready for short walks), and starting my hubby’s family tree (while my own is unfinished) have been major time sinks. Must set aside time to finish “Faery in Shadow” and start “Rusalka.” I’ve read less this year than any, I think.
Still waiting for my library to finish with repairs — we’ve been closed since February and are now on Month 10 of what was supposed to be a 3 month repair job (echoes of Gilligan’s Island here!) Every time they think the a/c has been repaired, another component breaks and they have to hunt through couch cushions and pockets for enough spare change to pay for repairs. I’ve been farmed out to 2 other library branches in the meanwhile.
No home repair this week, but I did just pick up a small secondhand chest freezer that fits nicely in the laundry room. I’m planning to stock up on the turkeys that go on sale this time yearly. Where else can you get 45 pounds of meat for a $10 bill?
And it rained last night for the first time in [i]months[/i]. It brought a weird phenomena too: due to the salty dust that falls out on everything, if it hasn’t rained for a while, the first winter shower will make any potential electrical shorts activate, especially on power lines and transformers. About 2:30 a.m. last night I woke up to that unmistakeable ozone smell, and wandered through the house to try to track it down. The transformer across the street was buzzing merrily away and the a/c fan must have drawn it in, making my subconscious alarms go off. At least nothing in the house was shorting out that I could find. Whew!
I stop by most days to see what you’re up to, and then check out Jane’s blog too! Sometimes I just don’t have anything to add to the discussion. I’m also having a wildly discombobulated and unfocussed month, nothing really wrong, just can’t seem to get my mental feet under me. Work, laundry, dishes and family issues all seem to pile up, regardless of how fast I run (or am run by, LOL)the hamster wheel.
So of course, I decided to do Nanowrimo this year. (I love Nano – it has taught me to be a much better reader.)
Finally feeling close to my old self after the last two months. I never seem to notice how rotten I have felt until I am feeling better. Am now dealing with life’s general chaos. No snow to speak of since the little bit we had at the beginning of Nov. The last few days have been real Indian Summer, which traditionally happens after frost. The kittehs have settled in to watch the birdie squirrel show on the deck. I am finally getting back into my studio and a better eating plan.
I’m going to start putting up Christmas decorations Thanksgiving week end.
I just purchased Chernevog after having reaf Rusalka a few months ago. I have all the time in the world to read now that I am on dissability for my back. I must say that getting back in the inner dialogue of wishing and not wishing and the panic of such thoughts is nearly overwhelming. So cheers for making me feel as overwhelmed as Sasha.
Been quite busy at work, filling in the time with some good reading. Wish one had been a new Bren book !
I envy your snowfall. Here in VA, we’re still in mid-fall. Beautiful days, but I’d like some white stuff.
Just pre-ordered Betrayer (#12) So excited! It will be a birthday present to myself.
I’m still here! Just been really busy at work recently. Trinkett is hanging in there… seeing her now it’s hard to think that she ever had 4 legs. She’s been put on muscle relaxants for the next week since she has been overdoing it, and is paying for it with some really sore muscles. Katie continues to progress. Did a private session with her yesterday in order to get useful tips for handling her on leash, which went very well. I’ve learned about the importance of deep tissue massage and full-body hugs (both meant to calm her down, since she gets a little bit panicky in strange situations). But she shocked me and the trainer by actually eating a piece of cheese out on the sidewalk. So we continue to make progress, and I have new tools to use.
And I have been dealing with a mechanics lien. Had a roof put on this place shortly after I bought it, and the supplier says that the contractor didn’t pay him. I can only say that mechanics liens are evil, and it’s very frustrating that, legally, there’s no real defense against them in this situation. “I paid the contractor” does not stop them from putting a lien on your house. But that’s settled… now I just have to get the money from the roofer. Who actually seems like a decent sort… I think he just ran into cashflow problems. Or the supplier is evil and is suing for money they don’t deserve. It’s no longer my problem to figure out!
So good to hear from all of you!
Ah, a signal for us lurker to de-lurk! *salutes* yes, ma’am, checking in, ma’am!
I hoped to do NaNoWriMo this month, but I had a hysterectomy and my gall bladder removed… yeah, two for one, yippee, uh huh. Anyway, as I recover, my energy levels are slowly increasing – along with my desire to eat, which is good, since I’d been down to mostly just a little mashed potatoes due to the gall stones. I lost quite a bit of weight because of this, but boy, it wasn’t worth it.
Maybe I’ll do a bit on Nano next week, but 50k is totally out of the question – I’ve probably got about 3k so far.
Mostly I’ve been reading whatever I can download to my Nook and sleeping. Now I think I’ll go take a nap.
Hope everybody has a nice Thanksgiving!
Welcome! And may we all have a great Thanksgiving!
Jane and I have plans to stay home and celebrate here!
So-so news for my Grandmother: After an exhausting day for me and probably many times that for her, the end to a hectic hard week — the gastroenterologist was more concerned about another issue than what we brought her in for. However, he didn’t recommend we go to the hospital, so she’s still home for now. Monday, she gets a blood test to see if she’s rehydrating well enough. If those results are good, probably we’ll know Tuesday, and yes, that means I will be getting Thanksgiving supplies last minute, possibly Tuesday afternoon. I will go with something very simple, and will likely forego a favorite or two because of it, deferring those until Christmas. But we’ll have a holiday meal if she gets to stay at home. Got a couple of good suggestions to pursue from a friend, who swears they are no cost and not dependent on insurance, though my Grandmother has good (OK, decent) insurance. Will look into that during the work week; can’t do anything now anyway. Grateful for the attempted helpful advice.
I am finally at my home for about 24 hours. I am not going to feel guilty for not doing a blasted thing. I am going to relax, read or write or watch some video and even nap/sleep. If I do any work, it will be a bonus, but I will *not* let myself feel guilty. (Hear that, work-guilt complex? Take a hike.)
During the week, I had tried to watch a movie (iTunes) but was paying no attention and stopped it less than 20 minutes through. Might watch that.
Everything lately seems to be “I, me, my/mine” and “we, us, our/ours.” It is as though the rest of the world were some far-off land that I venture into for a few hours each week, and then, only of necessity. The internet is about the extent of any social life, and…though I am by nature independent or a loner and introverted…this is no way to make new friends, find a love, relax, or (gasp) get paying work so as not to eat up my savings. (Work? Job? I have a full-time job now, caregiving and just taking care of me/us. …And that cannot hold; it cannot. …But if her health continues this gradual slide, well, it may even out, but I don’t expect it to be in my favor. That is months away, at least, so perhaps things will somehow improve. I just don’t see how yet, without some hard times ahead, money-wise. Emotionally…the emotional toll is a given.)
—–
I’d said earlier I’ve been watching Bleach (via download) since CJ suggested it, and that I couldn’t put my finger on why it (and Saiyuki) appeal to me. I have liked Cowboy Bebop and a few others in the past, but this is different. I think I have a better handle on why, now. Bleach and Saiyuki are different in storytelling style. Plot elements seem to be loosely connected at times and are introduced without preable, sort of the “stuff happens, get used to it” random approach to plot. That is either (1) real-world, rather than literary structuring; (2) we’re makin’ it up as we go along, sweetheart (the Indiana Jones school of planning?); (3) these are really aimed at the teen/youth audience and tailored to that expectation, though intended for some appeal to adults too; or (4) it is quite simply a cultural matter of how stories are structured, what the authors and audience prefer in making up stories. Likewise for character introductions and interactions and development. There is more depth than you’d think, at first blush, but it’s all very loose, from my impressions of it. It’s entertaining and I’m still watching both shows. (And when I looked up Bleach, I discovered it is a *huge* international bestseller, not just in Japan. Wow.) It is, as near as I can tell, like much of the other anime/manga I’ve seen (though Cowboy Bebop is an exception) a mix of the modern, the author’s own imagination, and old traditional elements from Japanese history, storytelling, and religion and folklore. (I am no expert on Japanese culture; it’s all new to me, exotic, and that is part of the appeal, most definitely.) Japanese manga seem quite happy to mix liberally any social elements from throughout history, together with fantasy and imagination, a zany, sly sense of humor, and the author’s own imagination or creative genius. They also seem to mix things which Americans would usually deem too “adult” for kids/teens, though that (dumbing it down, moralizing, or infantilizing of young people) seems to be recent in American or Western / European culture, to be honest, except for the tendency to moralize. I had to blink when I realized what was the subtext in one scene in Saiyuki, which later contributed to a villain’s downfall; but that was not the main point of the story, at all.
I know that trying to understand Japanese culture, given only a few anime/manga series is just as incomplete and inaccurate as trying to understand American culture from our movies and music videos. Hah! Yet it says *something* about both cultures. I’m not sure what, though, haha. Still, it’s interesting. What I’ve found most interesting is how this window into Japanese culture has parallels with the strengths and weaknesses of European (especially British) and American culture. England and Japan: two island kingdoms with some historical and cultural parallels. How strange to hold up a mirror and see both, whether the good points or the blemishes. I’m also struck by parallels with what I know of Greek and Roman culture. I suppose it points out that we’re all human and more alike than we like to think, for better or worse. All in all, it’s sure interesting.
One thing I’ve found curious is that the Japanese put great stock in their authors and illustrators / artists. Anime and manga have widespread followings and they expect serious thought as well as fun and excitement in their entertainment. That’s refreshing. It would seem they also have a different take on what youth can handle in concepts and responsibilities, which is also refreshing.
I’m developing a real interest in Asian and Indian cultures, over the past few months.
Thanks much for the introduction, it has proven more enlightening than I’d expected for some entertainment.
Oh — and possibly of interest, I’ve had a neat idea that might result in a mahen script, which I hope to sit down and try out (sketching or calligraphy) soon. I’ll seek input from CJC (hi!) and from Spence and Vetch, who have some keen interests there in Chanur Saga and Foreigner languages. The mahen script idea starts from a wild inspiration with Devanagari as a jumping off point only. 😉
So, that’s what’s on my mind (or part of it) this week.