A unique look at my dissertation writing process. Omitted: the recitative in which I weep uncontrollably on my keyboard at how much there is left to write.
I got tagged by @poplitealqueen to name 6 movies I’d watch anytime and then tag 6 people. Thank you, dearest Miss Pop!
1) Spirited Away
Just the MUSIC for this film makes me tear up and feel about nine sizes too big for the skin I’m in. And that’s before I’ve even pressed play. I love this film.
2) Shaun of the Dead
The best zombie movie ever made.
3) Galaxy Quest
The film I turn to when my brain is kicking me in the butt more than usual. Alan Rickman is amazing, the aliens are adorbs, and the kicker is STILL a kicker, right at the end.
4) LOTR
Do I need to write them out separately, bc I ain’t gonna. Once I’ve begun Fellowship, I am watching the other two, even if I have to take three days to do it (I can’t do marathons anymore, too many interruptions, sigh)
5) The King’s Speech
Beethoven has never made me feel like I wanted to sob before. No, really. But he does in this. Every performance is stellar, and every relationship is perfectly captured. (Also I love Geoffrey Rush)
6) Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark
IT’S THE BEST ONE (and also Gimli).
honourable mentions: The Mummy, Dune, CA:TWS, Shawshank Redemption, V for Vendetta, Labyrinth, Kill Bill, Dark Crystal, District 9, Casino Royale, MIB, Metropolis, Dogma, Star Wars, King Kong, HTTYD, Mad Max: Fury Road, and the list goes on and on and onnnn…
Ais was so stunned that she was silent for two whole minutes, it was amazing.
(THESE TWO CAN TALK UNDERWATER, NNKAY)
Then, of course, Ais leapt into action. Ais is a Lady Who Organises (we all know one or two of these, yeah?). She immediately began putting lists together of what was needed, what might be nice, things for Fris and Thrain to look at and decide on – Oh! Perhaps she should go ask her friend Alda about the new fabrics she has in at the moment…
Fris, of course, is getting herself hugged to death at the time by her sweet tubby chatty white-bearded dad, and is just grinning from ear to ear. Because she knows that this is Ais’ version of gushing. And Fris can see the joyful tears in her mum’s eyes.
And then, next time Thrain sheepishy shows up at their place, his hand firmly clutched in Fris’, Folgar naturally begins to pontificate wax philosophical about marriage and about his beautiful daughter and how pleased he is to name such a fine Dwarrow as Thrain a part of his family, and about the happiness they shall share, until Fris is squirming in her seat in pleased embarrassment – oh Maker, oh my heavens, Dad, please stop please augh.
Meanwhile, Ais is busy asking Thrain if he prefers sapphires or diamonds, because she has already asked one of her friends (”a notable jeweller, you know!!”) to begin work on their gifts, but she wants it to match with Thrain’s other beads, and also does he like fish because she can get a good source for the wedding, and if so, which fish does he like best?
Thrain is a little speechless and stammering in the face of all this, but happy enough. Because Ais and Folgar might be the CHATTIEST TALKIEST PEOPLE IN EXISTENCE (outside the Shire, of course), but behind every sentence beats the unspoken phrase, like a heartbeat, “welcome, you are welcome, you are welcome”.
person: why are you so defensive over fictional characters???
me: WELL, IT’S NOT LIKE THEY’RE HERE TO DEFEND THEMSELVES.
PPPPPFFFFFFFt. Sort of fits in with Yours Faithfully, I guess, but I am imagining a letter beginning ‘Dear Posh Git’ and finishing with ‘and if you mention it to Dwalin, I will flick you around the ear.’
And the reply would be addressed to ‘Dear Simple Rustic, thank you for the laugh, it was much needed. But you do know that the ring traditionally goes through a pig’s nose…’
Aw Yiss 