No Strings Attached

Posted By Kathleen David on January 18, 2015

Caroline is spending the weekend with her big sister Gwen so Peter and I decided to go see some films that might not be appropriate for Caroline or might bore her to tears.

The first is the Imitation Game, which is up for a number of Oscars and each nod is deserved.

It is a telling of the story of Alan Turing who is considered by many to be the father of the modern computer and his involvement with the Enigma machine. But it is also about the man himself and the enigma that was Alan Turing.

This film is beautifully directed and filmed with strong performances across the board. Mr. Cumberbatch rightly deserves his nomination for this role and what he did with it. Ms. Knightly is also brilliant and well deserving of her nomination. I really hope that they are cast in another film together because they work well off of each other.

They did take liberties with Mr. Turing’s life putting things in odd orders and making him more of an anti-social genius than he really was. That would be the anti-social part not the genius part because Mr. Turing was a genius. They did not whitewash his homosexuality or what happened to him later in life. The ending of the film is painful to watch and it should be.

I do think that the large screen gives it scope that it will be robbed of on the smaller screen.

The second film is Big Eyes about Margaret Keane and her husband Walter Keane and the painting that Margaret Keane painted that Walter Keane took credit for.

I remember back in 1986 when this went to trial so I was interested in what Tim Burton was going to do with it since he is a big fan of Margaret Keane and owns a number of her original pieces.

Give credit to Mr. Burton, he was pretty even handed with it. And more credit to Christoph Waltz whose performance of Walter Keane was masterful and a crying shame he was not nominated for an Oscar for this.

The bigger crime was not nominating Amy Adams for the powerhouse performance as Margaret Keane. She does more with a look than I have seen many actors do with pages of dialogue explaining their feelings about the matter. Also Terrance Stamp continues to amaze me with his ability to do a lot with a little.

I think this is the best thing Mr. Burton has done this century. Yes, there are one or two Burton-esque touches to the piece but they don’t throw you out of the film but comment on the character who is seeing them.

This one isn’t as critical to see on the big screen. I think it will translate well to the large TVs we all seem to own but if you like Tim Burton’s Ed Wood, this is the film for you.

I am grateful for two really good films that both entertained and got me thinking.

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Posted By Kathleen David on January 15, 2015

I was talking the other day to a friend and a name came up to which I said, “Nice guy. Had a good time working with him for a short time back in the 80s.”

There was a pause and my friend said, “You know you have lead an awesome life. Your life puts most people’s bucket lists to shame.”

And I thought about it. My life has not been perfect, in fact far from it, but I do agree that it has been pretty awesome.

I have seen and done things that others only dream about. I have accomplished quite a bit in my short 50+ years on this planet. Nothing world changing or ground breaking but I have met a lot of people who do that sort of thing. I, apparently, am really good at cheering people.

This time last year we were getting ready to go to England for a convention. Through a series of people who know people, we found ourselves at BBC Whales on the set of Doctor Who. Second time I have done that in my lifetime.

I have been in a Hobbit Hole in New Zealand. I have watched the sun set in Italy. I have sat on furniture older than the United States. I have seen great art and great theater. I have participated in some pretty awesome theater too.

I have met the cast of the original Star Trek over the years. I was able to tell Terry Gilliam how one of his films saved my life. I know artists and writers that I admired as a teenager who I can call friend. I got Terry Brooks and George RR Martin to pose for a picture together. I became friends with Neil Gaiman over a puppet at Jill Thompson’s insistence that I show it to Neil. I married Peter David.

I have been backstage at NASA and Disney.

I have been all over this country and a few others meeting and talking to fans about a variety of topics. I have been on panels and judged various contests. I went from fan to Pro but a Pro who is still a fan. I just have to act cool and let my inner child have a good squee.

I am grateful for all the awesomeness that has been part of my life and all the awesomeness to come.

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Posted By Kathleen David on January 14, 2015

Right now my brain is going in two directions creatively, which is unusual for me, since it both wants to build puppets and write.

I tend to do one or the other but this go ‘round it seems I have to find time to do both.

I have no idea where either of these activities are going to profit me but I do know that I want to do them.

I think I am going to start with the puppets since the story is still percolating.

I might even start with some new shapes I want to try to see if I can get the shape I want. So these are probably going to be pieces of puppets rather than the whole thing so I can take them apart and pattern from them. I need to get my 2-D to 3-D brain working again.

I also need to find my box of not quite right since I think I have already half built my solution in there with some tweeking.

I do need to replace some burned out light bulbs today so I can see what I am doing.

So point A to point B and beyond.

I am grateful for the ideas in my head.

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Posted By Kathleen David on January 13, 2015

I rarely use patterns unless it is something that I have created. I did use them in the beginning but now I have a set of patterns that I like and can change into whatever I need them to be.

But occasionally I will try a pattern if I think it will teach me something new. Especially if it will give me new things to play with down the road.

I have materials that I like/love to use. There are a couple that I haven’t tried to find a substitute like my puppet glue. I have tried other adhesives but the one I use has consistently worked for me for over 20 years now even with the formula updates.

New fabrics are always fun. I spend probably more time at a fabric store trying to figure out how I could use various forms of fabrics in various designs. Sometimes they are winners and sometimes they just don’t work correctly. Polar Fleece is probably the biggest fabric invention for me. Before that I have to endlessly search for the right color pink robe velour and make sure I got the stretch going the right way.

EL wire has made for some interesting possibilities especially for a comic character that I thought of other ways of doing but now I can realize my vision for that character. They are on the list of things I would like to build.

Fabric markers and paints have expanded a lot but I tend to go for the Sharpies unless there is bleed on the fabric I am using.

The expansion of crafty items to use is mind boggling. I consider some of the materials I used or created to get the right look and now I can get the same thing without all the hassle of having a 7 step process to get it to look right unless I want to use that process.

With all these new items, some of the old ones go away which can be frustrating since the old ones worked better and now I have to go re-invent the wheel again.

So I peruse materials that I think might be useful. I try some of them. If it works then into my bag of tricks it goes. If it doesn’t then I know.

I am grateful for crafty items that make my life easier.

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Posted By Kathleen David on January 12, 2015

Recently, when we open the computer, we have had to guide our computer back to our WiFi rather than the Optimum WiFi that seems to be trying to take over the signal. It is a minor inconvenience but still it can get annoying. Considering that this computer is the closest one to the route, a little disturbing too.

There are a number of things going on that are not optimum situations but are more make-do. So we make do with what we have and hope for the best.

The NFL has sorted itself out a little further towards the Super Bowl. We lost a chance at a rematch game this year when the Broncos lost to the Colts. Must have been bitter sweet for Payton. Green Bay got past the Cowboys who had a better run this year than most. Seattle can go for the repeat but has to get through the Patriots first. Green Bay gets to play with the Colts for the right to face one of two teams that seem to be unstoppable. I’m going to say Seattle vs. Green Bay for the Superbowl with Green Bay for the win with a really close score.

We didn’t get the promised mess this morning and now it is warm enough the rain will be the biggest problem for us. Rather it in the 40s and rain than in the 20s and snow right now. I will take every degree above freeze.

Today there are a couple of ways the day could go. I know which way I would like and which way it will probably go. They are not totally incompatible.

I have an idea for a book series. I have a couple of the characters coming into my head and telling me stories. I just can’t figure out the market for it. I might try YA but this might skew a little older. Either way I am starting to carry around a notebook and scribbling bits and pieces in it.

Well off to project #1 and then onto 2 and so forth until Bowling this evening if my elbow cooperates.

I am grateful for hair de-tangler.

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