No Strings Attached

Posted By Kathleen David on August 29, 2020

And a big FU to colon cancer.

This is what his family posted on his twitter page.

“A true fighter, Chadwick persevered through it all and brought you many of the films you have come to love so much,” his family said in the statement. “From Marshall to Da 5 Bloods, August Wilson’s Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom and several more — all were filmed during and between countless surgeries and chemotherapy. It was the honor of his career to bring King T’Challa to life in Black Panther.”

The first time Mr. Boseman made an impression on me was in the film ‘42’ which was about Jackie Robinson and the breaking of the color barrier in baseball. It seems a little too on the nose that Mr. Boseman passed on Jackie Robinson memorial day in baseball. 

After I saw him as Vontae Mack in “Draft Day,” I knew there was a new powerhouse actor in the room. 

When it was announced that he would be playing T’Challa, I knew he was going to give a performance of a lifetime. They introduced the Black Panther in Captain America Civil War and he was wonderful. By the time we got to Black Panther, he had the role down cold.

All during the time he was portraying T’Challa, he was battling colon cancer. Makes his work and dedication of his art even more amazing.

Black Panther made him an Icon for many people. That film gave many marginalized people something they needed. It gave them a touchstone. It was the first Marvel film they felt was made for them.

I managed to score two tickets to the Marvel Friends and Family Screening of Black Panther on top of our usual seats. I decided to take my friends L & D since they are Marvel fans. 

For D, the Black Panther was a touchstone from his comic reading. Here was a strong black superhero from an amazing land who was being treated as an equal by others in the Marvel Universe. This film was made for him on so many levels. He had tears in his eyes from happiness by the end of the film. 

That was when I knew this film was going to transcend the Marvel Universe and become something that would become a worldwide phenomenon. It also launched Chadwick Boseman’s career to the next level. Not that he needed much help with that.

I know that he loved it when children would come up to him and cross their arms on the chest and said, “Wakanda Forever!” Mutual friends always said he was easy to work with and had a very sly sense of humor. He was dedicated to the role he was playing and put his heart and soul into it.

His is a life cut off way too soon. One wonders what role would have gotten him his Oscar. 

My sympathies and prayers to his friends and family. Know that his work changed the world for the good and we will always be grateful for that.

I am grateful for Chadwick Boseman.

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Posted By Kathleen David on August 28, 2020

Today is my brother’s birthday, as some call him, the amazing Sean O’Shea.

When my mother was pregnant with Sean, I told her I wanted a little brother. Sean arrived and I loved him from the first time I saw him.

I thought for years that I taught him how to crawl by showing him how to do it.

I think we are pretty much even in what we have taught each other over the years.

I asked some mutual friends once to describe Sean in a word and tall came up a lot but clever and awesome were in there too.

Sean is clever. He has the brain the size of a planet and he knows how to use it. He can look at a problem and give you half a dozen solutions just off the top of his head. We share this ability and it has come in mighty handy over the years.

He is also very honest so if he hasn’t a clue, he will tell you.

When he finds something interesting and worth his time, he will put in the effort to master the skills needed. I think that is a family trait we get from our parents.

He has a wicked sense of humor and will go a long way to execute a practical joke. Just ask his wife about how he courted her. They still have a long standing game of tag with rules that only they understand.

He is an excellent mixologist. I know a number of people who are sad there is no DragonCon this year because they will not get their personal cocktail from Sean. The Friday Night Workmanship Judges are missing the heck out of Sean’s abilities. His invention of the jelly donut cocktail is stuff of legend.

He can throw a party. A lot of people look forward to whatever theme he comes up with and the invite. I think I know two people who have a complete set of invites Sean has done over the years. I do not but I do have most of the pins he has done. I could do a lanyard of those pins by now. I have most of the t-shirts too. I even still have the squeaky hammer from the non-party party he threw at DragonCon.

Among his many skills, he is a blacksmith. That is his hobby not his day job and he is dámņ good at it. I have a replica of the Dark One’s Dagger from Once Upon a Time that he made me for my 50^thbirthday. He is my go to when I need help with a prop or someone to bounce ideas off of. 

(For the VI: In the middle is a kris dagger with the word Rumpelstiltskin on the blade with a bronze handle. It is on top of its display case. In front of that is a derby cane with a brass top and black shaft. To the right is Mr. Gold the puppet with brown hair, grey suit, and brown eyes. To the left is Rumpelstiltskin with gold skin, wavy brown hair, gold eyes, red shirt and brown tunic)

He is a good friend who has his friends backs and will go the extra mile to solve a problem for them. His friends are loyal to him as he is to them. Sean is a great friend to have in your life.

I am very proud of my brother and his accomplishments. 

Happy Birthday Sean. I hope you get the day to do what you want.

I am grateful that I have Sean in my life.

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Posted By Kathleen David on August 27, 2020

We got one day’s respite from the heat and now we are back with the weather I despise the most.

There is the possibility of rain later but that will not cut the humidity. 

Heard around the house, “No that’s Newt’s suitcase, the book of Vashanti

is over there.”

Yes, we really talk like that around here. 

Yesterday Caroline and Peter ran through the Hugh/You dialogue from What’s Up Doc just because of something they heard.

It is interesting the shorthand and inside jokes that appear overtime within a group.

There are the people who were in the room where Guava Paste is People happened who have a story to tell for the rest of their lives.

There are my friends who got stuck in an elevator with Harlan and Susan Ellison that because the stuff of legend.

There are all the Monty Python references that appear throughout fandom like “I’m not dead yet” or “spam spam spam” or “this is an ex-parrot”. 

In theater we end up things and phrases that become part of our company. At Georgia Ensemble Theater the crew would write a certain phrase somewhere on the set and I had the run of the show to find it. Then there was the Sutter Fusty episode which became our swear word.

Among the O’Sheas there is the chorus of yums that run ‘round the table which is from a Flanders and Swan routine along with a plethora from Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy lines. Along with Skippy my evil twin and Sean’s evil twin and Sheila’s evil and Patrick’s evil twin. Adam wears that badge proudly.

There is the shorthand and phrases that the Internet created. Like LOL or MOTI. We have trolls and spam. There is ghosting and memes. It is almost a language unto itself.

There is also personal language that each person creates for themselves.

I have various nicknames for the cats that they are called depending on what they are doing. Figaro is usual called Fig or Boo or Boo Butt. Inky is Inky Dinky Doo or Doo. Mewlan is Mew or Pretty Pretty. Phoebe hasn’t really gained her nickname yet other than Kitten because she is the youngest.

I am grateful for personal language.

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Posted By Kathleen David on August 26, 2020

This morning I stepped outside to take the paper recycling to the curb and it felt so good.

The temperature was lovely. There is little to no humidity. This is my kind of weather.

I opened the window for the cats who have been sniffing the outside world and enjoying the sunshine. They are living their best kitty lives right now.

I am looking at things I can do outside today because I want to enjoy every minute that I can.

The next-door neighbors are redoing their house. It was gutted and they are rebuilding it. So, there is construction noise starting at 8 and going to about 5.

That is not going to ruin this day for me.

This is the kind of weather that gives me hope for the future. It recharges me.

It is why autumn is my favorite season out of the year. Well that and Halloween.

I am grateful for days like this in August reminded me that the heat will not be forever.

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Posted By Kathleen David on August 25, 2020

Yext

(For the VI: this is a long fur grey and white puppet with blue eyes, black nose and floppy ears.)

And got two more started.

I am going to have them up on my website for sale by the end of the week.

It felt good to get something done and something else started. 

I want to keep this momentum going onto my next project.

I made an artificial deadline pretending that I am getting ready for DragonCon. 

Caroline told me that she likes it when I am in my creative mood. I am more like the mommy she grew up with.

I am also going to pretend Anime NYC is happening and work towards what I would have made for that.

I have mad skills and can make amusing things. Now let’s see if I can sell them.

I am grateful for creative spurts.

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