So, many months ago (probably close to a year now), I went with a friend to the opening night of "Serenity," the Joss Whedon movie continuation of the cancelled TV series "Firefly." I didn't know it was opening night when the plans were made, but the theater full of be-costumed fanboys and -girls gave it away. It was amusing to me (in fact, I think I have a slightly condescending entry about it right here in these hallowed pages, but I ain't looking it up to chastise myself), and I enjoyed the film, and vaguely remember thinking I ought to go pick up or borrow the DVDs and watch the series.
Recently, a friend did just that, using her Netflix to work through the series in its entirety in a couple weeks. She raved about it, lamenting how quickly it was over.
Flash forward to last weekend, when I was standing in my local Target on one of my monthly runs for big bags of cat food and giant bins of cat litter (Cats! Nothing but eating and pooping!). I had wandered into the DVD section, thinking it was a good day for a movie. There, I found the "Firefly" series on DVD for $20. I casually tossed it into the cart and figured that pretty much wrapped up my afternoon.
I just love the way the universe hands me gifts so nonchalantly, as if they aren't going to paint the world with a color entirely new to me.
Over the next three days, I worked through the whole series and watched the movie again, and I'm not going to say that my life is different and I'm ready to strap on a costume and go roleplay about it, or start worshipping Joss Whedon like he's some sort of pop culture messiah...but...I have rarely bumped into a TV show that struck me so.
The bizarre combo of gun-slinging cowboys and spaceship-hopping scoundrels is awesome, and somehow even the anti-Kipling East-meets-West thing works for me. I mean, it's a show that both Tom Selleck (whether as Quigley or one of the Sackett boys) *AND* Harrison Ford (via Indy OR Cap'n Solo) could show up on, and that - while I'm sure prohibited by some universal rule of hotness concentration - is a consummation devoutly to be wished.
If they could work in something with kilts, I'd be in fucking heaven!
In what I know will come to many as a shocking turn of events, I've recently encountered a tenacious malaise that's sapped my interest in things I used to love. I'm having trouble finding new books to read, movies to watch, games to play. With the recent exception of Firefly/Serenity, I've become bored with so much that I encounter in the world of escapism that I rely on to distract me from the yawning chasm of my childless, partnerless, nearly-family-less life these days.
I wish I could say that this was a result of becoming more enlightened about the waste of a consumer culture, and how I had suddenly filled my hours with volunteer work and making my own clothes...which in some ways is kind of true - I've gotten back into knitting and crocheting and craftwork...but the truth is not that I'm choosing to abstain from indulgence, it's that I go to a bookstore and wander for over an hour, poring over titles and reading back covers and dustjackets....and not one thing catches my interest enough to motivate me to stand in even a short line and buy the book. Same goes for mindles shopping - I'll spend time looking at stuf, but there's nothing I want to buy. Ditto for movies...I've done it for the past month - look at the listings, check out descriptions at Fandango...wind up working late because no movie looks interesting enough to leave the office and watch.
Part of me worries that this is a sign of depression or something, but I'm frankly in a pretty decent frame of mind these days. I'm not hating the day job. I'm excited about spring showing up and diving into this years garden (more on that later). The yoga is going well and I'm enjoying that, despite the occasional twinge from the tailbone. I just signed on for another year in my apartment, which makes me happy (that will make five years under one roof...mindblowing!). The music is progressing, albeit slowly - but progressing nonetheless, and new music is showing up regularly. I'm wrestling with my spiritual community and what my role in it is, but that's nothing new and frankly to be expected. All told, life is pretty decent, and I know it.
So, why can't I indulge in some good ol' fashioned escapism? Am I just getting too picky? Is there no quality material out there that I haven't already read five times? Have I run through my lifetime's allotment of enjoyable entertainment?
Ye gods, when does Heroes come back on the air again??!?
Speaking of spring, the back porch container garden plan is being implemented as we speak. Last weekend, I went out and cleared all the old dead plant stumps from where I cut them back in the fall. With all the crazy warm weather we've had recently, there were some new green shoots in there amongst the dreck, which was thrilling.
More importantly, two plants from last year's efforts...survived the winter!! I have chives and mugwort already in place. That is so exciting I barely know what to do!
This year, I'm going with a mix of edibles and pretties, and who knows what will come up decently. I have a whole list of herbs and some edible flowers and some veggies and tomatoes...so it will hopefully be a productive year and I can count on growing some of my own food again, which would be beyond awesome!
Some awesome new music finds to share:
Dean Fields
This guy is a singer-songwriter out of Boston. I don't even remember how I stumbled onto his stuff, but it's good. Check him out.
Lily Allen
I feel like this might be an "uh...DUH" situation, because I think this chick is getting hype beyond belief, but her stuff is catchy, in a very Brit-hip-hop kinda way. She had me the first time she sang about bad credit. I highly recommend her "mixtapes" if you can find them.
Paolo Nutini
Probably another "duh" here, since I think "New Shoes" is probably getting mad spins on pop radio, but the kid can sing, and my gods that tune is infectiously catchy. When I'm not in a cubicle or a crowded train, I can't *not* get up and dance to that one.
Recent entries...
27 December 2007: 2007: Finis.
17 December 2007: A ruse, a rant, and a poem. It's short.
11 December 2007: Music & falling....story of my life.
08 December 2007: Briefly...ish.
29 November 2007: A poem, a rant, a lesson.