Old Fannish observation and whingeing update

[tenaya]

We had the big Thanksgiving meal today. Delicious. Here we are already starting on the leftovers while the rest of you layabouts are still defrosting your bird.

The Adventures of The Orange Tabbies:

Reg and Brindle went to the vets. One of the techs opened up Reggie's carrier and vigorously ruffled his fur. Reg just looked goofy and purred extremely loudly. He had his blood drawn; they had to shave a portion of his neck to find a vein as his fur is extremely thick this year. Then he laid on the table and waited patiently for Brindle to be checked out. Brindle had his scabs peered at and prodded. He did get a big shot of steroids, so hopefully he'll be better soon. We also had to *shampoo* him and spray this lidocaine/aloe spray on his lesions. Amazingly, he took the bath fairly well. This is actually his third bath (#1 de-skunk, #2 de-motor oil.) Maybe he's getting used to it?? We made a lot of eye contact and explained everything to him and that seemed to calm him for whatever reason. Wore out, he then ate some food and slept for 4 hours on a wet towel. His skin must be on fire since he is always trying to find the coldest place to lay. Hopefully, he'll be better in a few days. Reg, on the other hand, marched into the house and discovered heaven (ie the mouthwatering smell of roasting turkey.) Eh, Reg is now officially up to 18 pounds. Oops.

The Garage Diaries:
J said he needed a ride to that guy's house so the dogs could meet each other. We changed our plans, I took the cats to the vets by myself while mom finished a few dinner things by herself so she could drive J to the meeting. Guess what? Apparently when they called to see if the guy was still home (as he was an hour earlier) he wasn't answering his phone, so no meeting. Why am I not surprised? Mom says J has moved a chair and bookcase into the garage. The radar is definitely going off.

Master and Commander: We decided to watch a film post dinner. It was either Hildago or M&C. I chose M&C because fandom has said there was a nice slashy pairing there. *g* I think I really should have seen this on the big screen as there was just too much happening on our not-that-small tv set. The subtleties of what was happening with the rest of the cast was kind of lost on me. I did like the relationship between Jack and Stephen (no surprise there.) I found it quite funny how there were some very similiar moments with SG. Stephen, with glasses, reasoning/pleading with Jack to spend time on scientific research or vigorously debating Jack about their situation. The character of Stephen really made the film for me as I'm not that big of a Russell Crowe fan.

I've heard the books are good. I assume they are better than the movie? Is the Jack character in the movie very close to what's in the books?

Comments

[graculus.livejournal.com]

Hope the garage situation sorts itself out soon! You guys are obviously too nice! ;)

Meanwhile, the Patrick O'Brian books are great but really need to be read in order because they establish the relationships nicely - Jack and Stephen meet and nearly end up in a duel because of an argument between them and it goes on from there. Also they talk to and about one another very fondly, which is always nice and was never going to make it into the movies: the dialogue between them is liberally peppered with 'dear heart' and 'my dear' and so on.

As a long-time fan of the books, I think they did a really nice job with the movie and hope that the rumoured sequel happens. Jack is very much like Russell Crowe portrayed him (except larger and redder in the face as the books progress) but Stephen is physically nothing like Paul Bettany - he's small and sallow and not very pretty. Fortunately Bettany turned in such an oustanding performance and really captured the essence of Stephen anyway that the vast majority of book fans were able to forgive him for his physical dissimilarity.

[moonchildetoo.livejournal.com]

Things have definitely been happening at your house lately, all 'round! Good luck with everything. Glad that Reg didn't shred you ;-)

Sorry you had to work :-( I'm working Xmas, which is one reason I'm not spending the holiday with my family. Not working on the day, but all 'round it. In a couple of hours, however, I'll be on my way to spend Turkey Day with Robbie and catalenamara, feasting on bird & etc., quaffing various alcoholic beverages, and watching vids. I'm bringing Peter Pan, PoTC and Maurice.

I've never been a fan of the O'Brian books, but when I was active in Hornblower fandom many of them raved about how slashy the books were, and how much good relationship was actually written. I think if I were so inclined, the books would fulfill my slashy longings more than Russell Crowe (I am not a fan) and Paul Bettany. But that's just moi...

As for work - I don't know how you and sheepsclothing do it, working with those tiny, precious lives and knowing that you're going to lose some. I suppose when that happens, you just have to think about all the many that you save and who do go home with their parents. {BIG HUG}

[tenaya.livejournal.com]

Thanks for the advice. I'll definitely look them up and read them in order. Not very pretty, eh? Is he described as ugly or something? Interesting choice for author to use for a main character.

[tenaya.livejournal.com]

Reg would never shred me; that honor goes to Brindle.

Most of the kids we get we save, and most of the ones we lose we lose within a day or two. It's the ones you think you should be able to save and don't that really get to you. This kid might have been saved...except there was some sort of neoplasm in the brain. So even if we pulled her through hell, she was still going to die.

I don't see the the attraction with Russell Crowe. He's too into himself. I'm going to try the books, though. Thanks!

BTW, sounds like you three are having a wonder holiday! Good food, good friends, fannish delights and good cheer. Well done!

[graculus.livejournal.com]

O'Brian doesn't describe either of the main characters as attractive, at least not most of the time - Maturin gets the brunt of it (he's described as small, sallow, having oddly pale eyes, and so on - he clearly takes little to no care of his personal appearance) but Aubrey gets it too as the books go on and he gets fatter and more battered about by his choice of occupation.

[tenaya.livejournal.com]

Is Master and Commander the first of the series? The synopsis of the book is not the same as the movie. Odd.
Thanks!

[graculus.livejournal.com]

Yes, Master & Commander is book 1 (followed by Post Captain as book 2, which has some nice h/c), while the movie plot is actually from Far Side of the World, which is about book 9 or 10 but is more self-contained and has more action so was considered to be a better place to start, even though it doesn't show the beginning of the Aubrey-Maturin relationship that way.

[tenaya.livejournal.com]

Thanks for the illumination. I'll have it by Sunday.

[moonchildetoo.livejournal.com]

Yep - Russell Crowe=ewww. See my LJ for description of blissfully wonderful Thanksgiving.

Hey, I sent a couple of historical references to your EL addy, and I got the "you need to be added to our safe list" message, so I mailed that back to you/EL.

[graculus.livejournal.com]

http://www.livejournal.com/community/ship_manifesto/42372.html ;)

[tenaya.livejournal.com]

Oooh! Nice. A great place to start off at. Many thanks for sending this to me.

[tenaya.livejournal.com]

I found the first one about the Grail. Thanks! And you have now been blessed as one of the 'special few' who earthlink will let email me. Aren't you lucky!

I didn't get hallmark card attachment to the second email, though. Any chance for a resend?

Thanks.

[moonchildetoo.livejournal.com]

I sent you another card a few mins ago. and got the same "you're not worthy" message, so I guess it doesn't recognize that you added me. I used the Gmail addy.

Here's the code for the card:

If you need to contact us about your e-card, use this confirmation number EG1473811100575