So Mom and I went for the super crack this morning - a trip to The Painted Pony in La Porte. I asked Mom if she wanted to come with me to the fabric store and she was kind of indifferent to the usual places, then I said, "Or I might trek out to La Porte," and she changed her mind. The rooms full of quilter's cottons call to us, my precious calls.
Mom claims that I bought half the store, but really I only got a few yards of some really amazing, bright prints. Including one that may become the back of the Snape Quilt. There were such amazing and wonderful designs there, and I am *loving* the retro splashy flower prints so much.  Wild. Unfortunately, there were no prints that really truly screamed "potions" or "chemistry", but what I got I think is pretty evocative anyhow. If you squint, you can see magic/science in them. And they work so amazingly well together. Squee!

The Snape quilt (which is a small wall hanging, actually) is going to be so awesome, although I may have to do the Snape center piece several times. Mom and I discussed different techniques for getting him onto the fabric and "painted", so if I have lots of leftover attempts maybe I'll make little pillows or something.
You know what I didn't buy? Thread. Oops. I am so going to need more black for this.

Also found a fun pirate print, and it's an unwritten rule in this househould that if you find a cool pirate print, you buy enough for the family stash.

On the drive home, Mom and I discussed ethics, philosophy, and religion, or lack thereof. I think that having these important conversations with an atheist offers me some very good perspective, as a person and as a minister.
On the topic of irreverence, check this out: God: A Career Retrospective.

Yesterday:
me: I just skimmed a comic book review site in which they discussed an issue in which Spider-Man kills his wife by having sex with her and infecting her with his radioactive sperm.
illogicalvulcan: If that better or worse that Superman blowing Lois Lane's head off?
me: it's a reworking of the Superman title. what is wrong with these guys?   (the writers, not the superheroes)
illogicalvulcan: They think about sex too much?
me: I think about sex too much. these guys are thinking about something a little different.   :P
illogicalvulcan: I really want to know about those women this study I was reading studied, who apparently only think of sex once an hour.
[lots of stuff cut about the sudden end-of-day work crisis I had to stay late to deal with]
me:  that was the best half-hour I've had in days.
illogicalvulcan: My sarcasm senses are tingling.
me: ooooh. tingling.
illogicalvulcan: No dear, that's later. >:)  The internet is for porn
me: yeah, now we're back to that study that is obviously of a bunch of women socially programmed to lie about their thought processes.
illogicalvulcan: Heh. True.

Today:
me: ok, just to show where my mind is, I'm reading the transcript of an interview with Obama where he quotes RFK about "ripples of hope"  ...   and I read that "nipples of hope"
illogicalvulcan: Is Obama wearing the George Clooney Batman chestplate?  Okay, that's your one thought about sex this hour.
me: no, but omg now I am laughing at my desk and it's all your fault
illogicalvulcan: Yay!!

Today I had a sudden urge to look up the strip of Narbonic, Shaenon Garrity's brilliant and hysterical mad scientist comic, in which my super-intelligient gerbil alter-ego gets zapped by the space laser.
For being a pacifist, appropriately enough, although I'd forgotten that.  Tee hee.

Mom sent me this one:
Brewster Rockit: Behold the Power of Cheese.

So between reading Fables and going forth to The Brothers Grimm, I have had a surfeit of fairy tales in my weekend.

I absolutely adored Fables, and cannot wait for the next volume (due out in January!). The film was less fantastic, but still a wonderful romp with gorgeous eye candy and really creepy effects. Wowsa.

Also, in a random costume geek moment - there are a series of medievallish dresses used in the film that reminded me eerily of the costume I wore for the Czech cultural Fashion Show freshman year at Vassar.
OK, upon looking at the dresses up close it's much more a general aesthetic and embroidery thing than an actual resemblance. I didn't have a clear image in my mind of what my dress really looked like, more an impression of wearing it. In any case, that's what I was thinking as I came out of the theater.

Now I feel the need to get out my Complete Tales of the Brothers Grimm and read. So many creepy details, so many creepy tales.

There were mixed reviews around the Veselka table after the movie, too. Apparently I was the only one who didn't see the ending coming. I felt confused for a large portion of the middle of the movie - too many allusions coming too fast? - and I was really expecting Gilliam to do something unexpected. When the big moment came, I was then disappointed that it was so easy. Then it became a bit more fun at the very very end, and I liked the many ambiguities there.

Most folks probably know that I'm not always a fan of the Happily Ever After ending. It was good to see that turned on its ear, too.

I liked the bookending portions of the score, but I admit I can't remember what the music was like during the action.

In all, a fun evening, a worthwhile movie, and one I would love to see again with friends in the comfort of my own home. Finding friends who are willing to watch all the creepy nightmare-inducing bits again may be difficult.

Ok, so I decided to go see what this whole V for Vendetta thing was about.

Wow.

I read it last night, cover to cover. I was very impressed. I am even more impressed about the movie trailer, now, which I first saw on the big screen before The Island.

p.s. The Island was really good, too.

Now I'm reading Watchmen and pretty much enjoying it, too. Can't give a final opinion as I am barely even halfway through as yet.

I'd also just like to give a shout-out to the New York Public Library, for having a large selection of graphic novels. Yay NYPL!