|
Post by Julia, wrought iron-y on Nov 27, 2003 13:51:57 GMT -5
Actually, I need to add something to my Buffy critique up there. There is a strong current of Buffy disdain in the fandom at large, and I think they're missing a major point about the way the Buffy of seasons 5, 6, and 7 develops. Although it's a given that she's depressed when she's pulled out of heaven, her depression, and the connection with Spike that seems inextricably connected with that depression, dates back to the beginnings of season 5 and extends througout season 7.
Bother. After a long discussion of the finer points of making salad croutons, I've forgotten where this is going. I guess I'll just post it as a bunny and see who chases it.
Julia, derailed again
|
|
|
Post by Shan on Nov 27, 2003 14:46:33 GMT -5
On the other hand, if you're an American in Scotland on the 4th of July, people tend to come up to you and say "Congratulations". Julia, with fond memories of a garden tour that included Crathes Castle LOL! I wish one of my visits to Scotland had been on a 4th of July, then. I like Scotland and Scottish people. A lot. They have that whole "men-in-skirts" thing going for them, too, which is cool. And the poetry's not bad, either. Nor the whisky. Shanno whose fondness for things Scottish, however, has and never will extend to haggis
|
|
|
Post by Julia, wrought iron-y on Nov 27, 2003 14:51:59 GMT -5
LOL! I wish one of my visits to Scotland had been on a 4th of July, then. I like Scotland and Scottish people. A lot. They have that whole "men-in-skirts" thing going for them, too, which is cool. And the poetry's not bad, either. Nor the whisky. Shanno whose fondness for things Scottish, however, has and never will extend to haggisI have a shot of Dalwinnie I'm saving for... something. Remind me never to bring out single malt Scotch at a party again, will you? Julia, having only to travel a mile for Thanksgiving dinner, to spend it with people I see pretty much every day anyway
|
|
|
Post by Shan on Nov 27, 2003 14:53:07 GMT -5
I have a shot of Dalwinnie I'm saving for... something. Remind me never to bring out single malt Scotch at a party again, will you? Julia Didn't they appreciate it? Or did they appreciate it too much until there's only that shot left now?
|
|
|
Post by Julia, wrought iron-y on Nov 27, 2003 15:00:32 GMT -5
Didn't they appreciate it? Or did they appreciate it too much until there's only that shot left now? The latter. I should have taken out the Laphroig my husband got instead of the Dalwinnie; it's very strongly malty, and if it were gone I wouldn't mind so much. Julia, who has maybe two drinks a month, max, but likes the good stuff when she does
|
|
|
Post by RAKSHA on Nov 27, 2003 15:02:14 GMT -5
Actually, I need to add something to my Buffy critique up there. There is a strong current of Buffy disdain in the fandom at large, and I think they're missing a major point about the way the Buffy of seasons 5, 6, and 7 develops. Although it's a given that she's depressed when she's pulled out of heaven, her depression, and the connection with Spike that seems inextricably connected with that depression, dates back to the beginnings of season 5 and extends througout season 7. Bother. After a long discussion of the finer points of making salad croutons, I've forgotten where this is going. I guess I'll just post it as a bunny and see who chases it. Julia, derailed again It was quite obvious that Buffy was depressed and stressed during S5. She finds out that her sister is a supernatural portal-opener reincarnated as a human girl and is wanted by an extremely powerful hellgod, her mother (the only parent she has at this point) sickens and dies unexpectedly, she finds out that her safe, reliable "normal" human boyfriend is patronizing vampire whores and then the guy leaves her, then Dawn, the only person she has left to love, is grabbed by Glory and she's told that she has to kill her to save the world. Buffy had already sent Angel, the greatest love of her life up to that point, to hell to save the world, with at least the knowledge that his demon half had set up the situation to slightly allay her guilt. But Dawn was really innocent, had done nothing but be a preteen pain-in-the-behind, and Giles presented a terrible choice to Buffy.
That's what was behind Buffy's decision to kill anyone who came near Dawn even if the world would be destroyed, and to give up Slaying if Dawn perished, and behind her decision to give her life in Dawn's place. I think she was almost relieved and glad in those last moments on the tower. It would have crushed her to see Dawn die to save the world; and Buffy was already exhausted, tired of the burden she carried.
Being in Heaven, feeling safe and warm and complete, with no more monster-fighting and above all no more ghastly choices to make alone and no more pain to endure, must have been a wonderful relief. And then her unwitting friends brought her back into an even crueler world - that of adult responsibilities she had to shoulder alone as well as the burden of being a Slayer.
Giles and the CoW and even Willow and Xander had a lot to answer for - would it have killed Xander to fight to keep her on as a construction worker, or to work with Buffy so she could better fit in with the crew and keep a job that was far less demeaning than the one at the Doublemeat Palace. Why didn't Giles channel Ripper and bully a stipend out of the CoW? Did Willow pay rent to Buffy, or even try to loan her some money?
Giles should have at least realized how badly Buffy needed him after OMWF, instead of running back to England on the pretext of making her more self-reliant. How the heck did he think an unskilled 21-year-old college dropout was going to manage a mortgage while fighting monsters every day and caring for an unhappy teenaged sister? Buffy deserved his help and support. It wouldn't have killed him to help care for Dawn; it's not like they had any other father-figure in their lives.
End of rant. My mother and I are having a relaxing day; will cook later. We watched the National Dog Show on TV (hosted by the Philadelphia KC); a lot of fun, especially since neither the #1 dog in the country (a great little Norwich Terrier) and last year's BIS (Best In Show) winning-Standard Poodle (handled by the legendary Wendell Sammett) won BIS - the winner was a gorgeous Doberman bitch call-named "Raisin". I'll watch a dog show over football anytime; sorry, not a football fan; BIG dog show fan here.
GAIL
|
|
|
Post by RAKSHA on Nov 27, 2003 15:04:43 GMT -5
We don't get thanksgiving in the uk so I guess happy thanksgiving to all you USA type people, have fun. Happy Guy Fawkes Day! Isn't that holiday around this time of year?
GAIL , showing her ignorance
|
|
|
Post by Shan on Nov 27, 2003 15:14:35 GMT -5
The latter. I should have taken out the Laphroig my husband got instead of the Dalwinnie; it's very strongly malty, and if it were gone I wouldn't mind so much. Julia, who has maybe two drinks a month, max, but likes the good stuff when she does Partial to Oban, myself, as a regular tipple; smooth and citrus-y, don't have to fight with it to appreciate it. Haven't had any in ages, though. I do like the dark ones (like Loaphroig, is that how it's spelled?) that taste like a peat fire washed down with that frothy brown river water they've got there. Mmm. May have to get myself a bottle for Christmas... Shanno
|
|
|
Post by RAKSHA on Nov 27, 2003 15:20:01 GMT -5
Partial to Oban, myself, as a regular tipple; smooth and citrus-y, don't have to fight with it to appreciate it. Haven't had any in ages, though. I do like the dark ones (like Loaphroig, is that how it's spelled?) that taste like a peat fire washed down with that frothy brown river water they've got there. Mmm. May have to get myself a bottle for Christmas... Shanno I can't even remember the last time I had a nice drink. Pathetic, much?
I don't drink too often.
Do they still make BLUE NUN? I really, really liked the taste.
I remember that my dad was rather disappointed, since he had tried to get me to drink (in very small amounts) sherry since the age of 12, and I never could stand it...
GAIL
|
|
|
Post by Nickim on Nov 27, 2003 15:24:08 GMT -5
End of rant. My mother and I are having a relaxing day; will cook later. We watched the National Dog Show on TV (hosted by the Philadelphia KC); a lot of fun, especially since neither the #1 dog in the country (a great little Norwich Terrier) and last year's BIS (Best In Show) winning-Standard Poodle (handled by the legendary Wendell Sammett) won BIS - the winner was a gorgeous Doberman bitch call-named "Raisin". I'll watch a dog show over football anytime; sorry, not a football fan; BIG dog show fan here.
GAIL I didn't watch the entire dog show, but I did see the working group. I thought that Doberman was a truly beautiful. You could just see the intelligience in her eyes. I've always liked Dobies. Nicki, who's more of a cat person, but likes Dobermans & German Shepherds
|
|
|
Post by Nickim on Nov 27, 2003 15:25:20 GMT -5
I can't even remember the last time I had a nice drink. Pathetic, much?
I don't drink too often.
Do they still make BLUE NUN? I really, really liked the taste.
I remember that my dad was rather disappointed, since he had tried to get me to drink (in very small amounts) sherry since the age of 12, and I never could stand it...
GAIL Gail, Blue Nun is still available. We carry it in the store I where I work.
|
|
|
Post by RAKSHA on Nov 27, 2003 15:30:35 GMT -5
I didn't watch the entire dog show, but I did see the working group. I thought that Doberman was a truly beautiful. You could just see the intelligience in her eyes. I've always liked Dobies. Nicki, who's more of a cat person, but likes Dobermans & German Shepherds I love watching the Working Group; didja notice the gorgeous white Akita? And the lovely Newfie?
Raisin the Dobie, (I'll look up her registerd name later) who is probably up there among the top 20 show dogs in the country, if not in the top 10, seemed to me to be exquisitely built and beautifully presented. I'm not an authority on movement, though. You can't hide imperfect structure on Dobermans the way you can on more heavily coated breeds.
GAIL, two of whose spoiled pets are also champions, and who has been in many dog shows.
|
|
|
Post by makd on Nov 27, 2003 15:31:46 GMT -5
Shanno whose fondness for things Scottish, however, has and never will extend to haggisRE: Haggis -- I knew you were a clever girl.
|
|
|
Post by Nickim on Nov 27, 2003 15:40:40 GMT -5
Actually, I need to add something to my Buffy critique up there. There is a strong current of Buffy disdain in the fandom at large, and I think they're missing a major point about the way the Buffy of seasons 5, 6, and 7 develops. Although it's a given that she's depressed when she's pulled out of heaven, her depression, and the connection with Spike that seems inextricably connected with that depression, dates back to the beginnings of season 5 and extends througout season 7. Bother. After a long discussion of the finer points of making salad croutons, I've forgotten where this is going. I guess I'll just post it as a bunny and see who chases it. Julia, derailed again Buffy's inability to sustain a relationship with a "normal" guy, her mother's illness, and feeling like the only way to save the world is to sacrifice an innocent child all lead up to Buffy being willing to die herself. Her death was as much a running away as it was a sacrifice. "The hardest thing about this world is living in it." Buffy is ready to stop living in it--to lay down her burden any way she can. She says she knows when she's in heaven that everyone she loves is safe, but nothing could be further from the truth. Her friends and sister were in constant danger from assorted demons. The entire world was threatened, since the only living Slayer was in prison. Buffy was the only one who was truly safe. She was safe from all the difficult decisions she had to make when on earth. No wonder she longed for the mind-numbing sanctuary of an assylum.
|
|
|
Post by Nickim on Nov 27, 2003 15:43:42 GMT -5
I love watching the Working Group; didja notice the gorgeous white Akita? And the lovely Newfie?
Raisin the Dobie, (I'll look up her registerd name later) who is probably up there among the top 20 show dogs in the country, if not in the top 10, seemed to me to be exquisitely built and beautifully presented. I'm not an authority on movement, though. You can't hide imperfect structure on Dobermans the way you can on more heavily coated breeds.
GAIL, two of whose spoiled pets are also champions, and who has been in many dog shows. I think Akitas are beautiful dogs, but I wouldn't want to try to take care of any animal with long, fluffy hair. My cat has short, gleaming fur that doesn't require a lot of brushing.
|
|