Anime Boston

So, a few weeks ago I went to my first ever convention. It was Anime Boston, I went with my Anime as Global Popular Culture class & the trip was funded by the General Education office, which is pretty cool. We left at 11 am & got to the convention center at ~11:30 unfortunately we didn’t pre-order tickets so that meant standing in line until 1. I took this class on impulse (the professor’s last name is Yoda! I couldn’t not take it), so I know a fraction of what my classmates do about anime.

As a result, I spent my time in line people watching while the rest of the group talked about which shows they watch and who they usually cosplay as. Did you know there are series about sports? Not about real teams or athletes, fictional. I actually saw a tennis cosplayer with things you could buy at any sporting goods store. Very weird insomuch as it was seemingly normal until you realized it was actually a costume.

Me, dressed up as Luna Lovegood for a friend's Harry Potter Party. The closest I will ever get to cosplay except Halloween.

I also saw a lot of people cosplaying live action American series like Castle, Battlestar Galactica, and The Walking Dead.

Anyway, we got our badges and I couldn’t think of a fun pseudonym for my badge which is too bad. I came up with one about five minutes later. Then everyone went their separate ways. I spent most of my time people watching. The interactions between non-cosplayers, cosplayers, and people who had been dragged along was amusing. The convention center is attached to a shopping center which is where most people were eating and caused even stranger interactions. I tend to be on the reserved side, particularly in crowds, so I spent nearly all my time people-watching.

In the Dealer’s Room, I was looking for something for my 9 year old cousin for Easter since I will be celebrating with their family. I couldn’t find something that suited him. I did, however, find a variety of wigs (apparently $50 is a reasonable price), and body pillows with young men and women on them which I thought only existed on 30 Rock.

To paraphrase Kaylee on Firefly, look, they got boy pillow cases… isn’t that thoughtful?* Artists’ Alley was interesting because there’s a mix of fan art and original creations. I also found the commissioned stuff interesting because the artists would draw people in their choice of styles. There were really cute French Macaroon coin purses that I kind of regret not getting but I would never use them anyway.

I don’t know if it was the time or day that we went, but there weren’t really panels that I was interested in and I couldn’t rationalize sitting around watching TV with a bunch of strangers. I’ve come to realize that I do this every time I go to the movies but it’s not the same.

One of the most interesting things I saw happened, honest to God, in the ladies’ room. One cosplayer came in and was fixing her wig. I had never seen someone put on the net covering (over their real hair) and adjust one before. It seemed complicated but also appeared to be second nature to this young woman.

Overall, I noticed how trusting parents are at an event like this. Granted, the Boston Police and various security groups were everywhere but I saw a ton of young teens (11+) allowed to attend alone. I can’t imagine my parents letting me do that.  Granted, they let me go to the mall with friends at that age but doing so in costume in a strange environment seems is totally different. And they were so friendly, like everyone else they were as active about taking pictures of costumes or letting people photograph them. There were also a lot of younger children still with their parents. A surprising number of kids were dressed while the parents often looked puzzled but happy that their children were happy. It was pretty adorable honestly.

One minor problem is an odd trend of a few people shouting “Marco” and others responding with “Polo.” I have no tolerance for that sort of shenanigans. You’re in a convention center, not a swimming pool. That wasn’t as frustrating as my lack of knowledge about anime. I only know what we’ve discussed in class. I was one of the few people in school who never really got in to Pokemon.

On my own, I’ve started watching the rest of Neon Genesis Evangelion or Eva. We watched the 1st, 14th (a clip show) and 20th-26th episodes as a class. I was simultaneously confused by it and sucked in so I’m rewatching it, & am on episode 5. It’s a good time but requires constant attention. Mostly because the English dubbing is horrid so I’m watching it subbed.

*We studied yaoi in my class so none of this was as surprising as I’m making it out to be.

New Best Thing Ever

So I haven’t posted in many months. In my defense, I wrote a post on the differences between Battle Royale and Hunger Games but was beaten to the punch by io9, and although my post was different, I’ve held off on putting it up. I also wrote a thesis which was a huge time commitment. It was just over 12,000 words and I’m very smug about it.

Yup, I wrote a lot about Joni Mitchell and Laurel Canyon, or just canyons and Mitchells in general.

I wrote about (primarily) Joni Mitchell, and as a result listened to a lot of very sad music. Very sad music.

It was hard to get through my thesis playlist without crying or nearly crying but it introduced me to a lot of new (to me) artists. I’ve developed an appreciation of Judy Collins and Graham Nash, whom I knew almost nothing about even two months ago.

One weekend, Aileen came to visit to watch our younger cousin with me while our aunt & uncle had an anniversary weekend away. During that time we started watching Downton Abbey and she read Hunger Games (since then both of our parents have read it too, I’m such a trendsetter). Oh, and we were hockey moms shuttling around a nine year old boy but that was relatively pop-culture free and would probably bore you. Go read a mommy blog if you want that. I’ve never watched so much Shark Week or been woken up before 9 to play Life. But what does this have to do with the “New Best Thing Ever?” It’s simple. The new best thing ever is: creating imaginary soundtracks!

A few days later, while Aileen was reading Catching Fire and I was reliving reading it with her, I started making a playlist on Spotify that felt like a soundtrack to the series. Over the next 5 days & 43 tracks, I made what I thought was a complete soundtrack for the trilogy. Today, I started a Downton Abbey one. It’s already 50 tracks after about an hour. I’ll start asking for Aileen’s input soon, but right now it’s a fun way to relax between assignments. What people don’t tell you is that there’s still work after your thesis. Maybe even more work since you’ve probably postponed assignments.

In the anime class I’m taking, we’re studying fan culture so I feel particularly self-conscious about this activity. Is it crossing a line into obsession? Dear God, I hope not. I’m as nerdy as I’d like to be for now. But seriously, I don’t think I would put it that way. Obviously these songs could never be the soundtrack to an actual movie or TV show, but they also aren’t a random collection of songs. They track either the mood or story lines of the characters. In the Downton one, I have songs about WWI and about Irish history. The Hunger Games one starts with two Judy Collins songs about coal mining. Aileen’s response to that was tweeting that I “sure know a lot of songs about coal mining. #fact.”

A lot of people associate music with a particular character. Like this podcast episode about 80s songs and X-Men characters (skip to ~51:00, it’s pretty funny), although I’m fairly serious about the songs I choose.* I tried to evoke the feelings that these works make me feel, or express what goes on. I’ve also managed to introduce Aileen to musicians I like, like Laura Nyro and Thelonius Monk. I haven’t included Riot Grrrl yet, but since one of the Downton ladies is a suffragist, maybe I will. Screw it, it’s Bratmobile time.

Anyway, I would suggest trying this on your own and then letting me know about them. Or commenting with a request. I’ll probably do Princess Bride or Hanna next but I have nothing planned after that.

*I did put “Drive My Car” in the Downton playlist because they have a chauffeur and the Beatles are British, so I do have silly stuff in there. I also added Robyn’s “Call Your Girlfriend,” because it’s just an awesome song in general.

Not a Teen Mom

On New Year’s Day, I awoke remembering one of my dreams. This is extremely unusual for me, since I usually only remember nightmares. I had fallen asleep while watching Lord of the Rings. Aileen & I were babysitting my cousins’ bulldog puppy,

From Facebook, Wilma the bulldog/ Satan beast.

and Wilma insisted that we be upstairs in bed at 10 pm. She actually sat at the top of the stairs and cried until we went to sit with her. It was really very sweet & cute. She had tired herself out by spending the afternoon trying to eat our fingers and toes. Aileen & I were not tired because we had just watched TV and tweeted about her puppy antics.

Anyway, the dream was awesome. I was in the forest fighting monsters, and it was the best dream ever. Now that I’ve taken primitive navigation & swordfighting classes, that dream would be even better!

A few weeks later, I woke up in a total panic. I patted myself down, looked around the room, then turned on the light and looked around the room again. Thank God my dream hadn’t come true. I started watching MTV’s 16 & Pregnant at the gym, then (for some reason) decided to finish watching the episode on my laptop. The advantage of this is, on the MTV website, there is a near constant message board of teen moms & dads, and teen not-parents spelling things incorrectly and talking out of their asses about birth control and abortion.

I had dreamed that I was a teen parent. I lived with parents that weren’t my real parents, in a house that wasn’t my house, and somehow had a pasty blond baby. I was also extremely irresponsible. This isn’t really a surprise, since I’ve managed to neglect 90% of my seamonkeys to death.

From Amazon.com. This was one of my favorite books as a child.

Now, as a rule, I start off any acquaintance with a child under the assumption that I will hate them. That way, they can only improve in my perception. Even as a child, I didn’t like other babies. They really have nothing to contribute. After a child is 5 (possibly 4), I can consider liking it. Then they can handle their own bathroom needs and read books. I love that.

I told my roommates about this dream, and somehow they didn’t know about my dislike. One was stunned that I don’t think I want kids and that I’m not on the whole fond of children. The others didn’t see how that could’ve been such a scary nightmare for me. I just don’t get it.

A few months ago (when I wrote this, June 24th), Aileen had a teen parent dream/ nightmare too! Now, we’re both over 20, so we couldn’t be teen parents, but her dream was also based on watching too much MTV. I’ve decided to stop watching those programs altogether. What can I substitute this with? This show is, at times, a pick me up if I’m stressed at school or having a bad day. There’s something simultaneously soul-crushing and uplifting about knowing that I’m not a complete failure.

Something Awesome Just Happened

So I was sitting at my desk & found a bottle cap in a drawer. I know I’m supposed to be working on my take-home final and final paper, both of which are due on Monday, but this was far more fun. And I need to celebrate finishing my first thesis chapter. I’m about 3,000 words in to 10,000-15,000 word project. My dad taught me how to snap bottle caps and fire them across the room, so obviously I had to do that.

I flicked it and, from my seat, was able to hit the wall behind the desk, bounce it off that and the back of my laptop and my stack of DVDs, then have it land in the garbage can next to the desk. It was a sort of ping-ponging movement that I didn’t totally see because it happened so fast. It was the coolest thing ever, but I have no proof of it. It’s like the magic bullet of bottle caps, and I am so very proud of myself.

Also, I’ve started listening to Riot Grrrl so maybe after finals & stuff are done, I’ll post about that. And I got picked to do an orgy on WHRB. From 5am-9am 12/17 and 5am-11am 12/18. It’ll be blues and some folk music, & is called Crime & Punishment.

Christmas Songs

So while I was shopping for my Halloween costume at the Cambridgeside Galleria (yeah, I don’t get the name either), I heard the first Christmas song of the season emanating from Hollister. It was The Beach Boys, either Merry Christmas Baby or Little Saint Nick, I can’t remember anymore. Anyway, it was October 28th so I was not pleased. It was way too early for that kind of music. I’m stubborn enough to think that Christmas music belongs between Thanksgiving and Christmas Day, and that most of it sucks.

The Worst:

• Jingle Bell Rock
• Christmas Shoes. This song is emotional blackmail. Also, as I’ve said before, I much prefer its dark Easter cousin
• Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer
• Mary, Did You Know? Ok, this one is personal. In middle school, Aileen, a friend, and I went through a phase where we wanted to act. Because we lived in upstate-ish New York, this meant community theater. We were in a stage production of The Hobbit,
  

  I don't know how they made a stage-sized puppet out of this, but it was kind of good.

  then Aileen & I were in a Christmas pageant/ play written by a local author. Sensible adults would have turned tail & run, but we were obviously not those. Instead, we were in what would later be known in our family as Bad Christmas. The show involved homeless people. Well, “actors” pretending to be homeless people. It sucked. People randomly broke in to song, and one guy chose Mary, Did You Know? I don’t know how many of you remember The Culps from Saturday Night Live (also known as the music teachers), but this guy was a walking Culps sketch. I don’t want to say it was bad, since I spent both performances sick in bed, but I’ll assume it was.

• Simply Havin’ a Wonderful Christmas Time. I have to admit, I didn’t know that that wasn’t the correct name for this song. It’s actually Wonderful Christmastime (All the Best)
• Merry Christmas (I Don’t Want to Fight Tonight) by The Ramones
• Baby It’s Cold Outside Listen to this once, you’ll get it immediately.
• Santa Baby simply because it’s so frakking annoying.

The Best:

• Crooners. Nothing says Christmas like imagining a bunch of middle aged men in suits swilling martinis in black & white, and that’s what crooner carols remind me of.
• A Charlie Brown Christmas Soundtrack This also reminds me of Arrested Development.
• Holiday Road. I know this isn’t from Christmas Vacation, but it is a holiday song with a macabre element (the dead dog).
• Fairytale of New York by the Pogues. Consider this an alternative to Merry Christmas (I Don’t Want to Fight Tonight). Christmas Wrapping is also good for an updated Christmas playlist.
• The Hannukah Song, for those of you who celebrate Chrismukah, just Hannukah, or enjoy a 90s-laugh.
• This Will Be Our Year probably more New Years appropriate, but good for holidays overall.
• The Elf and Love Actually soundtracks are pretty good. Oh, except Love Actually has some very sad songs, like Both Sides Now.

Did I miss anything major? Let me know, and I’ll consider adding it.

Update: How could I forget this beautiful tale of Christmas banishment & minor cannibalism?

BFF Rules

So I love Mindy Kaling, and was so excited about her book! I’m officially recommending it. There are like 5 excerpts posted if you’re on the fence about reading it. This audio excerpt about BFF Rights & Responsibilities inspired my blog post. I’ve tweeted two so far but obviously I have so many more.

• In the event of a zombiepocalypse, if I’m bitten, you get to shoot me but only if I am unable to do it myself. I won’t do it myself, but it would be nice to have the option.

Her hair is... fine. The lipstick is the real tragedy.

That's a lion mane of hair, and it's awesome.

• If I am ever taken over by a cosmic entity, it is you job to make me see reason because that’s super dangerous, even if it makes my hair look fabulous.
• I can’t criticize your driving because odds are, I was the one distracting you. Sorry, I just really like to dance to Come on Eileen.
• No matter how old the youtube video or meme is, we have to share it.
• When I’m nerding-out to an absurd degree, you have to pull me out of it and make me watch a rom-com or read a normal book so I can communicate with other humans.
• We will send each other drunk text messages that are incomprehensible to others but make perfect sense to us.
• You have to laugh when I do my Christian Bale as Batman impression. I would include an audioclip but I come too close to losing my voice.
• You are allowed to play with my hair or rub my back.
• We’re allowed to spoil movies to each other as long as the movie is out on DVD already. We’ve had our chances to see it, and clearly haven’t. Let’s face it, if you haven’t seen Pulp Fiction yet, you weren’t going to.
• You will never make me watch The Little Mermaid because that she was an ungrateful idiot. Also, never ever let me watch Dark Crystal or Labyrinth no matter how often they come up on my Netflix suggestions. Or The Goonies. I don’t care how good it is, it terrified me as a kid.
• You have to be honest with me about clothes, hair, and makeup. One night, this happened to my hair while I was eating with non-BFF friends and they didn’t even acknowledge how bad it looked. WTF? At least offer a girl a hairtie!
• On that note, if you ask me to do your hair or makeup, I’m in charge. No fidgeting. I can’t do a fancy braid if you act like a toddler.
• There’s no reason to eat any food that isn’t pancakes. They’re appropriate for every meal and occasion.
• If we’ve seen it more than twice, we can talk through the whole thing.
• We will over-analyze song lyrics especially if they’re Taylor Swift.
• If I am ever in the hospital and any member of the medical team is hot, it is your job to make sure I look amazing in his presence. We’ve watched enough medical dramas to know that there is inevitably one hot, young single guy on the team.
• If you hate it, I hate it (at least in your presence).
• We take care of each other.
  

  Blind Great Dane with her guide dog, they're clearly pals and super awkward. I love them.

• If you are sad, I will send you as many cute, supportive, and funny things as I can. I will also listen. I probably won’t have a lot of answers but I’m really good at listening.
• I have dibs on a list of names for children that I neither have nor want. You are not allowed to steal them. I know this is crazy and illogical, but you know you have a list too.
• We will never fight about Facebook. We spend too much time there anyway. We will spend that time finding up crazy stuff about people we kind of know (like the girl who raises her dogs like babies, shit like that).
• I will love you no matter what. I will love you like I love The Princess Bride; no matter how much or little we interact, I will always think you’re great. You will always be my favorite.

Signs You Might Have the Moves Like Jagger

I am not fond of this song. I’m not even going to include the music video. First Kesha mentions Mick in a song, now Maroon 5. I’m a pretty big Rolling Stones fan, and have read several books by & about them, so I’m making my own list.

• Did you write this song?
• Are you now or have you ever been in a relationship with someone who bears a striking resemblance to you?
  

  So much scowling.

• Have you ever tried to be an actor?
• Have you ever tried to be a musician?
• Do you study or have you ever studied business?
• Do you attend the London School of Economics?
• Are you from the UK?
• Have you constantly changed your fashion styles since reaching adulthood?
• Do you like several different kinds of music?
• Do you travel often?
• Do you do weird things with your arms
  

  From This is Not Porn

  when you have to sit between two people?

• Do you have a love-hate relationship with your long-term best friend?
• Have you ever hooked up with on your best friend’s significant other?

From This is Not Porn

• Do you enjoy alcohol?
• Have you ever partaken in illegal drugs?
• What is your mouth to face ratio?
• Do you have children who were born decades apart?
• Do you enjoy dating and/or casual sex?

Think about it. If you answered yes to all of those, you might actually be Mick Jagger, in which case we should be friends. I’m not friends with nearly enough rich & famous older men. I mean, odds are you’re not Mick Jagger because he’s one of a kind and probably super busy.