New years resolutions

[bop_radar]

Emo!Lee still makes me giggle SO MUCH.
This post has a lot of cut-tags... *muses*

I have resolved to see more movies this year. Somehow my movie-going habits slid away from me in 2006, and I regret that. Last night I tried to see 'Little Miss Sunshine' but it was sold out, so I wound up seeing 'The Queen' instead. I enjoyed it a great deal more than I thought I would.

Little known fact: Boppy did her history thesis on power and piety in eleventh-century British monarchy (think Edward the Confessor and Margaret of Scotland). What has this to do with 'The Queen'? A lot actually. The relationship between a monarch and their people is a complex one. There is a sense of obligation and entitlement on both sides--this was very well explored by the movie. Medieval monarchs knew the value of public demonstrations of humility. At particular times of the year, or on significant occasions, they undertook such acts as washing the feet of beggars or distributing bread to the poor. My thesis argued that these acts, superficially self-humbling in nature, were also acts of power at another level of analysis. They connected the monarch to the people and were all the more powerful and poignant for being incorporated into the pageantry and opulence we normally associate with royalty.

When the Queen got out of the car on the way into Buckingham Palace to walk among her people, read the cards on Diana's flowers and speak to the visitors, I was strongly reminded of these acts of monarchs of old. It was, as Blair was well aware, the best thing she could have done to reassert her authority. The 'humiliation' as the Queen (in the movie, at least) called it, served a purpose in reminding people of the power of the monarchy. The crowd, that moments ago had been reviling her, offered flowerrs and curtsied.

The world has undergone profound and swift change within the last fifty years. The monarchy has not kept up, yet some of the same patterns surrounding power remain. It is important to connect with your people, no matter how entitled you feel to your position. Arguably the medieval monarchs were even more secure in their thrones--they may be deposed by rivals, but a monarch of some sort would remain. The position was, after all, god-given. The monarch of today cannot trust to that alone. The threat is not just to the specific monarch but to the entire structure. All the more reason to connect with your people--and in our world, that means change, change, change. And humility, though NOT humiliation. Edward and Margaret would have been able to tell Elizabeth that. ;-)

I think what I most enjoyed about this movie was Blair's journey--because it mirrored my own emotions very well. My family include some hardcore Scottish nationalists, so I was eye-rolling at the royals from the beginning, yet it frustrated me so much to see them destroy themselves that I found myself 'with' Blair in wanting them to pully it together. I thought it was a very effective movie portraying a fascinating era in British history which I remember watching with great interest at the time.

Meanwhile, Friday Night Lights is killing me with emotion. I've just finished watching 1.06 and 1.07 and if I wasn't still sniffly, I'd power on for more. But it packs such an emotional punch, I think I need a break first. I'm starting to love Tyra! I really enjoyed the development she got in these couple of eps as a girl who wants to make something more of her life in this shithole town. That actress is wonderful, and she sells the character's vulnerability and strength perfectly. For entirely superficial reasons, I confess, I latched on to Tim early on as my favourite eye-candy on the show. And hey, he had inner pain. Inner pain is good! *g* I thought I was objective about the nature of this attachment until the show totally KILLED me with the hospital scene and then his speech to Jason. Ow, my heart!! *clutches* The awkwardness! The offering of the ball! The teariness! The hand-holding! I'm officially suckered.

And finally, even Smash's plot gripped me. I really REALLY don't like loudmouth/braggart characters normally. I cannot stress this enough. Yet, I really felt for Smash when he fucked up in 1.07, especially when he looked over to his mother in the stands, all deflated. All that bravado hides how incredibly fucked up he is and the character's so well drawn, they made me care! *reeling* WHY DO I CARE ABOUT THESE DUMB FOOTBALL GUYS?! But omg, I SO DO. And I love Matty and Jason very much too and I just want them all to be happy, dammit. And yes, I'm still sniffling.

Tomorrow the Boy and I are starting a healthy-eating/lifestyle plan. I'm a little daunted, but it's very necessary after the usual Christmas-New-Year eating extravangances. At the end of last year, my gym closed unexpectedly. This was really distressing for me as I'd been finding the yoga there so beneficial. Well, the good news is I've found a place to continue practice. It's in this fantastic converted warehouse studio, and the staff are brilliant, but the yoga is HARD. I'm going to have to work my butt off to tough it out there. Which is probably exactly what I need, but I'm feeling, well, challenged right now. And I'm also going to be getting on my bike a lot more--both for fitness and environmental reasons. So wish my muscles good lucks! ;-)

And on the food front, one of the best things I did towards the end of last year was sign up for delivered organic fruit and vegies. I get a box once a week of what's in season, and wow are they GREAT. And bananas are back! BANANAS! :-) (There was a banana crisis in Aus last year, for the few of you that I did not bitch to about this.) But man, I do NOT know enough recipes with root vegetables in them. Sweet potatoe, anyone? Pumpkin? Send your vegie inspiration in my direction because these boxes are forcing me to get creative. As is the all-singing all-dancing breadmaker that the Boy's parents gave us for Christmas. Homemade bread is a very lovely thing, but it has 38 setting. THIRTY-EIGHT. I'm going to have to give up full-time work to master this thing!

And finally, I need to guilt myself into vidding. So, first it was the unrippable DVDs. Now it's the vid itself. supacat cast her eye over a preliminary draft of my Clex vid and informed me (accurately, as always) that it required something other than hard cuts in a few spots. She's right. But it's thrown me into great angst as that means doing something creative/artistic. *quakes* I'm really not sure I can do this. I tried a few dissolve transitions and eeep they look SHITE. I don't want to kill the vid with effects--what it needs is a very subtle touch in a couple of spots. Instead, every time I play with something now it's kind of the equivalent of someone splashing tub of black paint onto a halfpainted canvas. *shudders* But I must, must, must finish this. *resolves*

Oh, and I've cut my friendslist somewhat. I finally hit that point beyond which I can't actually keep up with it. If you think you've been defriended accidently or would like to be added back again, please drop me a line. It was not my intention to hurt anyone's feelings.

Comments

[grapefruitzzz.livejournal.com]

Interesting. Although at 10am, all I can say is BANANAS! I plan to start vidding as soon as I get a real computer. It's my favourite form of fanart. Also it's a way of foisting your music taste on other people :D

[bop-radar.livejournal.com]

Awww, great icon! And I would LOVE to see your vids when you start them. They're my favourite form of fanart as well--and music sharing foisting is a good side effect!

[random-serious.livejournal.com]

FNL is teh love. Matt is so... awww. I must admit, Tim was my first pick, but Matt is just growing on me so hard.

[bop-radar.livejournal.com]

Yeah, Matt is a more solid love, I suspect. I was fully aware that my attraction to Tim, was, er, superficial. Though I'm happy he got development and I really liked that he angsted over a believable period of time--he didn't just have his one ep of not going to the hospital and then finally going. It really dragged on for weeks--just as it would with real teenage boys who don't know what to do with emotions.

[skuf.livejournal.com]

The simplest recipe I know for root veggies, but which is also one of my favorite, is simply to chop them up in cubes or juliennes (you can vary the sizes accoding to cooking time needed), salt and pepper them, and stick them in the oven.

It works well with one kind on it's own, and even better with a mix of veggies. You can also add onion and/or apples boats later.

Some people add oil, but I find it's not needed - sometimes just a bit of water in the bottom of the pan helps them cook faster + not stick.

[bop-radar.livejournal.com]

That is good! I have roasted them before but I like the idea of this oil-less method, and I wouldn't have thought of adding apples. Thank you!

[sadface.livejournal.com]

I had stuffed vegetables yesterday for tea. I've never had stuffed vegetables before, they had cracked wheat in or something, and cucumber and tomato. They were actually fruits really, stuffed with more fruit but whatever. I feel like this is vaguely relevant to the post. :)

So you think I should watch FNL too? Hmmm, I keep meaning to, I have them on my comp as well. Maybe tomorrow.

[bop-radar.livejournal.com]

*hugs* oh, stuffed vegetables sound interesting but may be beyond my cooking skillz right now! ;-)

YES, WATCH FNL!! Oh, I love it SOOOOOOOOOOOO much! There are vulnerable gorgeous broken kids in it, and I love them so.

[mskatej.livejournal.com]

FOR THE LOVE OF GOD WOULD YOU PLEASE WATCH FNL. *shakes you*

[wallie18.livejournal.com]

Hi, I think I was one of the flist cuts? I just wanted to say that I've really enjoyed being part of your flist and I'm grateful to have to been included as long as I was. If you wouldn't mind adding me back I'd be thrilled. This is your personal space and the most important is that you be happy and comfortable. Just in case I never get the chance to say so again I love reading your journal. I think you're awesome and I'll always be so grateful to have you as part of my flist. Best Wishes for 2007!

[bop-radar.livejournal.com]

Oh, thank you for speaking up! I've added you back. *g* And I really appreciate you taking the time to mention you enjoy reading my journal. Welcome, um, back? *hugs*

[mskatej.livejournal.com]

I love every character on FNL, even the ones I don't *like*, if you know what I mean. They're all so believable; well written, wonderfully acted, and there's no shortage of hotass. I love Coach (and Tami of course), Matty, Jason, Tim, and most recently I fell hard for Landry (you will too a few eps from now, I suspect). I'm so happy all the pimping from FNL fans is working and that more and more people on my flist are getting into this show. *bounces*

[bop-radar.livejournal.com]

TIM ICON!! *hugs it* Yes, I know what you mean about liking even the characters you don't *like*. I think the only character I really dislike is Lyla--she's driven me batty, but I've come to the conclusion that it's just the (poor) actress, because conceptually she's interesting to me--but the execution always annoys me. I think the actress just doesn't sell her to me, because she IS psychologically convincing, and yet I never 'buy' her scenes. Anyway, I'm getting past that...

I haven't really fallen hard for Coach--perhaps because of my issues with sports coaching generally. However, I love Tami, and I'm definitely prepared to warm up to pretty much everyone over time.

Thank goodness for hiatus when one can catch up with other shows! ;-)

(now I need icons...)

[brandil.livejournal.com]

Another FNL convert! WOOT!!!

[bop-radar.livejournal.com]

Heee. Yup, I caved. ;-) And I'm SO GLAD I did.

[myownghost.livejournal.com]

the boxes of organic produce sound wonderful. yesterday i made soup with a carton of organic vegetable broth (sort of a soup base), ginger and curry powder, and a bag of carrots. once the carrots were soft, i pureed them with an immersible blender thingie and then threw in a bag of frozen mixed vegetables and cooked it some more. fresh vegetables would've been much nicer than the frozen stuff. i tend to crave soup when i haven't had it in a while. it would probably also be good cold (in hot weather), and pumpkin would doubtless work fine.

[bop-radar.livejournal.com]

Oh, that sounds yum. I'm not much of a soup person but mainly because I don't really know how to make them. I tend to like chunky Italian style soups best. I really need to broaden my range.

[transtempts.livejournal.com]

::cough::

BTW, a Clark and Ollie fic has been completed. fic here (http://transtempts.livejournal.com/315967.html)

[http://users.livejournal.com/wisteria_/]

I still can't shake my vibe that, back in the day, Lee Adama was Matt Saracen. ;)

Also, my banana allergy is seethingly jealous of you right now.

[bop-radar.livejournal.com]

back in the day, Lee Adama was Matt Saracen
Hee! Oh, especially when you use that icon! That 'lost little boy' look. He certainly has Matt's 'dazed around the one I love' thing going on. STILL. *giggle* Awwww, Lee! Awww, Matty!

Banana allergy? Eeeep! Living without bananas has been so very hard this past year (since the cyclone wiped them out), I can't imagine going without over a longer period. *hugs*

[c-mantix.livejournal.com]

I only have about 85 friends and I find it hard to keep track of everyone's comings and goings. I don't know how you manage with 200+!

Emo!Lee - and companion action figure, Emo!Kara - really help me cope with S3:)

[bop-radar.livejournal.com]

It's ain't easy! ;-)
Ah, the ultimate emo couple! How I do love them and their Great Angst!

[norwich36.livejournal.com]

Wow, I was just cooking root vegetables for the first time yesterday. (Um, rutabagas or turnips, I honestly don't know which since they were right next to each other at the supermarket and the recipe I had called for either one).

I have a couple good sweet potato recipes that I use for holidays, though the stuffed sweet potato one definitely isn't low fat. Let me look around for the the sweet potato soup one I made for Thanksgiving, but here's one I'm actually making for dinner tonight, from Sundays at Moosewood Restaurant . (And if you're used to metric recipes, sorry! I have no IDEA the conversions for this)

African groundnut stew
2 cups chopped onions
2 tbsp vegetable oil
1/2 tsp cayenne or ground chile
1 tsp pressed garlic cloves
2 cups chopped cabbage
3 cups cubed seet potatoes
3 cups tomato juice
1 cup apple or apricot juice
1 tsp salt
1 tsp fresh grated ginger
1 tsp chopped fresh cilantro (optional)
2 chopped tomatoes
1.5 cups chopped okra (which I always omit, since I hate okra, but I imagine it does thicken the stew)
1/2 cup peanut butter

Saute onions about 10 minutes; add cayenne and garlic and saute a few more minutes, then add the cabbage and sweet potatoes and saute about 5 more minutes. TThen add the juices, salt, ginger, cilantro and tomatoes. Cover and simmer about 15 minutes until sweet potatoes are tender. Add okra and simmer 5 more minutes. Sitr in the peanut butter, place the pan on a heat diffuser and simmer gently until ready to serve. Add more juice or water if stew is too thick.

Of course, that's not very summery, but most of my root vegetable recipes are wintery ones.

[bop-radar.livejournal.com]

OMG, you gave me an actual recipe!! *falls over ded*
That is SO COOL!!! Goodness. And yes, I don't know why we have so many root vegetables right now. IT IS SUMMER, DAMMIT!! But yet we do, so I must cook them. So very few root vegie recipes are summery!

Ok, I have questions. What is tomato 'juice'? It's not paste, I'm guessing. Runnier? Could I substitute tins of tomatos, you reckon? I reckon I could... I'm meh, about okra as well. Reckon I could substitute zucchini? I have zucchini! :-)

This is COOL! We should trade recipes more often!!

[norwich36.livejournal.com]

I made a version of the curried squash soup here (http://heresluck.livejournal.com/140093.html#cutid6) substituting sweet potatoes for squash, and it came out very well.

[bop-radar.livejournal.com]

Oh! I also have squash! That is very, very helpful!

[kristiinthedark.livejournal.com]

I find myself unable to rally up any interest in FNL. Mostly this is because I LIVED it. That was high school in Texas, and I feel no need to revisit! But sometimes you guys make me feel like I'm missing something. *sigh*

Yay you for going organic! I would, but I am cheap right now, and organic produce costs way too much money. One day, maybe. My mind blanks at recipes other than bake, roast or mash. But I will be on the lookout!

And very fascinating about your thesis and the history of eleventh century monarchy. *is impressed and slightly in awe*

[bop-radar.livejournal.com]

Wow! See, for me, watching FNL is like watching a completely alien culture--part of my love of it is definitely cultural fascination. *g* But if it was too close to home for comfort, I can understand not watching it. Have you seen any eps though? It's very well made... The need to pimp dies hard.

Organic is very $$, yes. Though these vegies work out very good value if I actually use them all. They give you whatever's in season to a set $ amount each week, and you get LOADS. We're actually saving money we worked out, because I don't accidently by expensive out-of-season fruit or whatever. But I can't yet afford to go organic on staples like flour and sugar and all. Baby steps... baby steps...

[norwich36.livejournal.com]

Here's more summery sweet potato recipe, this time from Moosewoord Restaurant Low-fat Favorites

Sweet potato and black bean burritoes

5 cups peeled cubed sweet potatoes
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 tsp vegetable oil
3.5 cups diced onions
4 large garlic cloves, minced or pressed
4 tsp. ground cumin
4 tsp. ground coriander
4.5 cups cooked black beans (or 3 15 ounce cans)
2/3 cup cilantro leaves
2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
1 tsp salt
8 8-inch flour tortillas
Salsa (I usually just use jarred, but I can give you a recipe if you need it)

Preheat oven to 350F. (Again, no clue about the metric conversions, sorry--except 350 is the standard, just about everything in the oven gets heated at this temperature temperature).

Put sweetpotatoes in a medium saucepan with salt; voer with water, bring to a boil, and simmer, covered, until they are tender--about 10 minutes. Drain and set aside

While sweet potatoes are cookieng, saute onions, garlic and chile in the oil until onions are tender. Add cumin and coriander and cook for 2-3 more moinutes, stirring frequently. Remove from heat.

In food processor, combine black beans, cilantro, lemon juice, salt, and cooked sweet potatoes and pree until smoot. (You can also mash them instead, if you prefer more texture and/or don't have a food processor). After they have been processed and/or mashed, stir in the onion mixture.

Lightly oil a large baking dish. Spoon in about 2/3 a cup of filling in each tortilla, roll it up, and place it, seam side down, in the baking dish. Cover tightly with foil and bake for about 30 minutes. Serve topped with salsa.

[norwich36.livejournal.com]

Odd typos in this, probably because I was looking at the cookbook, not what I was typing. That should be "cover with water" in the second paragraph of instructions, and "puree until smooth" in the fourth paragraph of instructions.

[waltzie.livejournal.com]

I hate to guilt anyone into friending me (honestly, I do) so I want you to know--no hard feelings either way, I promise. ;)

But I can tell you with a strong level of certainty that I almost NEVER update in my journal, so if you added me you'd probably never see me on your flist!

[bop-radar.livejournal.com]

Oh, I don't think I meant to defriend you! Eep! Damn that long page of tickboxes, I knew I'd mess up somewhere... Thanks for speaking up--I've friended you back again. *g*

[talitha78.livejournal.com]

Your comments about transitions intrigue me. Why do you find them so intimidating? How are they more creative/artistic than any other editing decision you make?

I mean, I'm not a huge expert on transitions, but when I need one, I just throw one in there. Although--I do try to minimize their effect. With Premiere, you can fine-tune transitions, adjust how long they last (how many frames they cover), that sort of thing. Can you do that on your software?

[bop-radar.livejournal.com]

Yup, you can do that on mine. Actually they seem dauntingly complex. You can have one's that fade in, fade out, or both (represented by little triangles pointing in different directions). I haven't the faintest idea which I require in which situations. And you can adjust the length, which I've done, but I don't know... so far they kind of look rubbish. Perhaps it's the shots I'm transitioning between? Also it makes it harder to know if I'm cutting on the beat properly. *frets*

The main reason I'm tackling this is that my track has a really marked change of pace--from a slow, lyric-driven part, to a fast hard-beats part. And to make the change more dramatic, it would be good to shift from soft dissolve transitions back to hard cuts. I'll keep working on them, but they seem pesky right now. And I'm still not sure whether to use them on ALL the cuts in the slow section, or just within 'clauses' (um, like each line of lyric has it's own little narrative). Damn. I don't even know the words to describe this!

you have hurt my feelings!!!!!!!!

[ender24]

where is the clex vid!!!!!!!!!
*cries*
you are sooooooooo mean!!!1111 :D

Re: you have hurt my feelings!!!!!!!!

[bop-radar.livejournal.com]

Heee. Don't worry! I am still working on it! Worked on it last night. Apparently I'm just sloooooow. *g* But thanks for the motivation to keep working! MUST VID, MUST VID, MUST VID!!

[ciaan]

My mother makes an awesome sweet potato curry.... I shall try to remember to get you a recipe.

[bop-radar.livejournal.com]

Cool! Sounds good! *g*