thunking

a curious thought.... because of who I was in my previous life (NYC genre editor, for those of you coming in late), I have never (and seem unlikely, at this point, unless I sell something Serious Lit'Ry) worked with an editor I didn't know at least socially beforehand. I've never gotten a "hi, I'm your editor" letter, never had to ease into figuring out personality and working-style....

I think maybe I'm missing a Stage of Authorial Development.

I'm sure I'll survive.

It's just weird.

It is also 70 degrees at midnight. Bleah. Do. Not. Want.

To come at some point: my review of Prince Caspian, thoughts on the books I'm not reading right now, and possible more thunks on blueprints, mapmaking, and the demands of accuracy of the world in your head....

Prince Caspian

So, I finally got around to seeing Chron. of Narnia: Prince Caspian. For most of the movie I was quite pleased with the adaption – it was like 'reading' a novel with visuals, in terms of storytelling and development,rather than a series of battles and dialogue. There were a few times that I was annoyed, but my memory tells me that those were places I was annoyed with the book,too (CS Lewis and I had at best an uneasy relationship). Visually the movie got hella lot right – yes, swordfights really were mostly men bashing each other until they were too tired to move – and the things that pricked at my logical mind I could mostly overlook (and the overtly Spanish-style armor [not to mention accents] was dealt with, which made me feel much better). Although I can't be the only one who recited "You killed my father. Prepare to die" at the appropriate moment...

Am still dubious about the basic thematic requirements of Aslan's return (see: previous annoyance) and the set-up to dump Susan, who deserves better (thought so as a preteen, think so now), but a good movie, true to the book while improving on it in subtle and non-intrusive ways (IMO and to the best of my recollection, PC was not one of the better in the series). They've also learned a lot about CGI, use of – showing us the animal Narnians without any closeups allowed the viewer to imagine better than they could actually create, while the shots of the cats flowing along at the hooves of the centaurs was delightful, and the griffins were allowed to retain their magical sense of wonder by only being seen in flight/in shadow (much much better than the first movie, which really disappointed me inthat regard)

Oh, and if I can't have a griffin, I at least want a badger, damn it.
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Right. Enough procrastination. Back to work...

Return to Riding --Midterms!

Note the change of icon on this post. Because, ow. Serious workout today, and as much aching as I feel now, it will only be worse later. Which is good, but still..ow.

Today I rode Louie for the first time. The first thing I discovered about Louie is that he is an ADD pony. "ohh, bird, person, carrot, shiny!" This was confirmed by C's instructions to keep him especially engaged around the windows because "he likes to look out them, and sometimes he gets distracted."

He also has a tendency to stumble that I needed to be aware of and respond to (don't freak, loosen the reins, let him get his balance, tighten the reins back up, don't shift your balance during any of this, in the length of two or three strides). I also had to learn about the tendency to wander off-rail, and that his gait was significantly different (unlike the other school horses, he has actual elevation in his trot, which is lovely once you get used to it, but changes the way your body moves, too).

So. I got most of that in about five minutes of just walking in the ring and getting introduced. And then there was a full hour of hard labor that I can't even describe except to say that there wasn't a single second I wasn't trying to pack half a dozen things into one simple movement -- if you didn't do something exactly right, Louie Would. Not. Do. It.

However, I'm pleased to say that by the 30 minute mark he and I were having our own little party in the ring, trotting and cantering around the ittle pretty ponies and the instructors, and mostly moving with one accord [with the occasional stubborn-offs when he thought I was being sloppy]. His torso is just the right size for my legs, his stride is just the right length for me to feel both safe and energized, and the challenge of getting him to be perfect really kept me pushing my game. I thought I learned a lot. Not even close to perfect [there were a times I felt like a rank idiot] but not bad.

It wasn't until after the lesson when I, tired and sore, was leading him out of the ring, that C. told me that Louie was her 'test' horse, the one she uses to see how well her students are really doing. He is, in C's words, Thoroughbred-cross high maintenance with an extremely responsive mouth, and in order to get anything out of him, you had to have a really light touch on the reins and a firm leg. More, there are some riders he likes, and some he doesn't, and it's all a judgment call on his part. "He likes you," she said. "You did really well, and got the most out of him."

I will take my gold star and wear it proudly. But for now, I need some Tylenol and a drink. Because... ow.


Sadly, it looks like I'll never get a chance to ride the Mountain of Peewee (hah, no chance of that, I LIKE being within a mile of the ground!). They got him for their larger riders, but most of them were beginners, and Peewee was too much for them to handle, so he goes off to another home next week. Such a handsome big boy, I hope he lands somewhere good.

Politics

The Democratic party ran a white woman and a black man. Whatever your personal picks, pans, or preferences, just stop and think about that for a moment. Both were politically viable candidates, running on their own records and strengths. Neither was a sop to gain any particular portion of voters in a VP spot -- they were the Presidential candidates.

All right, so it took the worst white boy in the white house evah to get us here. We're here. It can't be undone.

Whatever you think of either candidate, take a moment for the History.

And now, onward. Senator Clinton, there are many reasons I admired you, not the least of which was your ability to cut through the bullshit and make your peace with reality. Please, use those skills now and work it like the political party animal you are. There's no shame to it, when you use those brains and charisma and connections for good. Really. Broker yourself a position where you can continue to make your mark on history, and let us tell our daughters -- and our sons -- that we saw you when, and benefitted from the work you did.

And Senator Obama? I never drank your kool-aid, particularly. But I will raise a toast of my own beverage to you on this night, and hopefully many to come. Don't fail us, sir.

EtA: something to chew on, with regards to the discussion going on in the comments:
Mr Obama hinted at the plan last week. "One of my heroes is Abraham Lincoln," he said. "Lincoln basically pulled in all the people who had been running against him into his cabinet because whatever personal feelings there were, the issue was 'how can we get this country through this time of crisis?’ And I think that has to be the approach that one takes." We'll see how many women he brings in.