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portmanteaurian · 3 years

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So this year I, like a lot of people, was going through some stuff. And the way I coped, particularly over the summer, was by reading. I read between 275 and 300 books this year (final count pending), which is certainly the most I’ve done in at least a decade. And a lot of them were very good! I narrowed myself down to a list of forty recommendations, with short write-ups of ten, and made a point of not repeating authors. You can see everything else on my StoryGraph account though.

YA/MG:

The Beast Player - Nahoko Uehashi trans. Cathy Hirano

Death Sets Sail - Robin Stevens

Echo After Echo - A.R. Capetta

Half World - Hiromi Goto

A Phoenix First Must Burn: Sixteen Stories of Black Girl Magic, Resistance, and Hope - ed. Patrice Caldwell

Shadow of the Batgirl - Sarah Kuhn & Nicole Goux

A Song Below Water - Bethany C. Morrow

The Scapegracers - Hannah Abigail Clarke

YA contemporary fantasy is obviously a well-trodden genre, but this felt like a really fresh take. Sharp prose, interesting magic system, and a really fantastic and original-feeling POV character. I can’t wait for the sequel.

We Are Not Free - Traci Chee

This is a historical novel about residents of Japanese-American internment compounds during WWII, so it is not a light read. But it was powerfully emotionally affecting, and really compelling from a craft perspective as well; each chapter is narrated by a different character, and seeing how all the perspectives intersect is really remarkable.

ADULT FICTION (mostly spec):

A Choir of Lies - Alexandra Rowland

The City We Became - N.K. Jemisin

The Empress of Salt and Fortune - Nghi Vo

The Four Profound Weaves - R.B. Lemberg

Homesick: Stories - Nino Cipri

Master of Poisons - Andrea Hairston

Mexican Gothic - Silvia Moreno-Garcia

The Order of the Pure Moon Reflected in Water - Zen Cho

Phoenix Extravagant - Yoon Ha Lee

Piranesi - Susanna Clarke

The Seep - Chana Porter

Skin Deep Magic - Craig Laurance Gidney

Stormsong - C.L. Polk

Freshwater - Akwaeke Emezi

One hell of a debut novel. Emezi has said it’s largely autobiographical, which makes it one of two really unique takes on autobiography and memoir that I’ve read this year. It’s about trauma, immigration, queerness, disability...I really just recommend you read it, though perhaps after checking a summary, as it deals very frankly with some potentially triggering subjects.

Not So Stories - ed. David Thomas Moore

This year I spent a lot of time with short stories and novellas, which is a little unusual for me. Several collections made a strong impression (there’s a few others on this list), but I adore the conceit of this one, which features a group of authors of colour responding to Kipling’s intensely colonial “Just So Stories” by writing new fables of their own. Some directly riff on Kipling’s tales, others go in entirely new directions, but all are really effective.

The Raven and the Reindeer - T Kingfisher

Kingfisher is one of those authors I discovered this year who I am shocked I had never read earlier. She’s prolific, works in genres I like, and is beloved by several of my friends. Consider this book a stand-in for her catalogue in general on this list, although of all the books by her I read it’s the only direct fairy-tale retelling. Really great take on Andersen’s Snow Queen

The Unspoken Name - A.K. Larkwood

This was just a ton of fun. Very queer, frequently hilarious, in a totally bizarre fantasy world (worlds, even!) and with a great protagonist. Another really confident debut novel, and another one where I can’t wait to check out where the series goes from here.

NONFIC:

The Body Keeps the Score: Brain, Mind, and Body in the Healing of Trauma - Bessel van der Kolk

Disability Visibility: First-Person Stories From the 21st Century - ed. Alice Wong

Disfigured: On Fairy Tales, Disability, and Making Space - Amanda Leduc

Distorted Descent: White Claims to Indigenous Identity - Darryl Leroux

In the Dream House - Carmen Maria Machado

The other unique memoir I alluded to above, Machado non-linearly unpacks an abusive relationship she experienced with incredible clarity and artfulness. As someone who’s experienced abuse, parts were very familiar, and Machado’s writing is very effective at laying a situation bare (a skill she uses to great effect in her short fiction as well). This book also has some of the most memorable and narratively impactful citations I have ever seen. Read it to understand how that’s the case.

The North-West is our Mother - Jean Teillet

This is straight-up a history book but it’s a very clear and engaging one. For people who’ve ever wanted to know more about Métis people and our history, particularly in the 19th and early-20th century, this is going to be one of my go-to recs. It’s a little sparser with the more recent stuff, but there are other books to fill that gap.

ROMANCE:

Band Sinister - K.J. Charles

The Doctor’s Discretion - E.E. Ottoman

Invitation to the Dance - Tamara Allen

Two Rogues Make a Right - Cat Sebastian

Silver in the Wood - Emily Tesh

A Taste of Honey - Kai Ashante Wilson

Behind These Doors - Jude Lucens

This year is really the first I’ve read romance in any serious way, but I did read a lot of it and learned a fair amount about what I like. This ticks a lot of those boxes (historical [Edwardian, in this case]! Gay! Engages honestly with social issues of the period!) while also being a story about people negotiating polyamory, with much of the conflict being rooted in how one effectively communicates with the people they care about. Really different from anything else I read, and really well-done.

The Care and Feeding of Waspish Widows - Olivia Waite

This is probably my favourite romance novel of the year. It’s a slow-burn Regency story about the relationship between two middle-aged working women, a beekeeper and a bookseller. It’s also a story about prejudice, mob mentality, and the intense class divide in Regency England -- the Peterloo massacre is a significant element, and the way that opposition to it brought together a coalition of different social groups that ultimately could not hold due to other prejudices dividing them. It’s really nuanced, and really effective. Also, I am assured by a lesbian friend that the sex scenes are very hot.

SO ANYWAY. A lot of recommendations, and more detail about some of the ones I most encourage people to pick up. Really in my opinion you can’t go wrong with any of these, though, and I hope you take a look at some next time you’re searching for something to read!

What a year, huh?

#dorian reads 2k20

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what-kinda-fuckery · 4 years

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Hey so, I was one of the star struck falsettos stans that spent the forty dollars for the webinar, and I took notes (like a weirdo). So I decided I would share my funny moments and updates from the cast here!

- Host: Everyone should be keeping their audio off.

Christian: Oh alright!

Host: nO Christian not you

- Christians in Manhattan and his hair is back and he’s wearing a Superman t-shirt.

- Brandon is with his parents in NJ

- Stephanie and Brandon still love each other

- Brandon: Meat should be cooked just right

- Betsy: Stephanie are you in maple wood?

Stephanie: Well thank you for telling everyone where I am (she’s in NJ)

- Stephanie: Are you fucking kidding meee!!!

- Tracie is in LA, she looks like she’s in Costa Rica and I love her dog.

- Anthony’s VOICE IS LOW EVERYONES FREAKING OUT

they’re all talking about Anthony’s clear skin

- Andy Randy is in LA with a fresh haircut his boyfriend did it and he’s watching too much TV

Andrew: I’m watching this is America

Stephanie: SO GOOD

Andrew: SO GOOD

- Everyone’s having hard days

- Christian is acting out tracies dog’s pathetic bark and everyone’s like WHAT are you doing bc it looks like he’s about to throw up

- BETSY IS A WEEK AWAY FROM HAVINGA WHOLE CHILD

Betsy: What else do you do during a pandemic? Have a baby!

Andrew: Can I toss out another baby name? Celery.

Literally everyone: Goodnight Andrew goodbye!

- Christian is living with a girl (?) and playing board games instead of watching television

HE COOKS NOW EVERYONES PROUD OF HIM

Christian: yesterday I made pork filet en croute

Stephanie: I MADE PORK WITH SAGE AND APPLES ON WEDNESDAY

Stephanie: In mean girls they wear pink on wednesdays. In falsettos they make pork.

- I can’t get over Anthony’s voice

Again everyone returning to his literally perfect skin

- Stephanie: When watching four jews in a room in the beginning who’s in China?? I know the answer I just want to hear someone say it.

Andrew, with a thick accent: It was Bryna, in China, with a torn miniscus

- Christian: Did anything interesting make it on to the telecast between me and you? Andrew? Actually I dont remember I need to do my research.

Andrew: There’s been some strange comments about Christian and I- (AT THIS POINT IM WHEEZING)

HE MENTIONED THE TONY BONY

HE SAID IT WASNT A THING

HE DIDNT HAVE ONE

Andrew: No that’s not a thing that happened

Brandon: Andrew i want you to know that it’s okay if it was. It’s a safe space just the seven of us. (Lol)

- Bill Finn would take two steps into the room: “WROONG”

Stephanie: he wanted me to sing the end of I’m breaking down up the octave and I said #notmytrina

Brandon: #NOTMYTRINA

- Tracie what did you do during act 1

Tracie: Betsy and I sat in that dressing room for like an hour and a half

Andrew: You SANG the WHOLE SHOW TRACIE

- Betsy watched parts of the first act to feel like she was there

- Betsy sprained both her ankles at one point during the run and was a trooper anyways

Brandon reenacting Betsy limping during look look look look

Everyone dies laughing

Christians LAUGH makes me SO HAPPY

- Betsys screen is frozen like this: 🤨

Andrew: What if she went into labor??? (This is a common thread throughout the zoom)

- Anthony: I’m getting a lot of glitching so Stephanie is just like “HUH UH UH UH”

- Betsy comes back and everyone is like

YOU GUYS ITS COMING!!!

- They bought Andrew an ice cream for his birthday from the vending machine at rehearsal

- Andrew: The Hawaii crop top

Betsy: I would give anything to have that

- Tracie: it was very hard. Very precise bringing the blocks together

Brandon: Trying to be like oh my god we’re going to a funeral

Andrew: MY DEATH IT WAS MY DEATH

- fan question: What did the blocks weigh?

Stephanie: They were like thick yoga blocks. Not heavy but awkward shaped

Andrew: Significantly heavier when Anthony sat on them

Anthony: I just realized how much I got thrown around

Stephanie: Anthony were you proud of yourself? #proudofyou

Anthony: The one moment I was cringing was father and son

Christian: HERE WE GO *SLAPS TABLE*

Betsy: Anthony’s like BLAH BLAH BLAH blah my line BLAH BLAH BLAH my line BLAH BLAH

Christian: I LEAVE THE PAUSE IF YOU CANT GET IN THATS ON YOU

Anthony: I was blinking in that number like constantly

Christian: THE WHOLE THING LIKE A SALAMANDER

Oh Anthony.

- Andrew: I HAVE A STORY ABOUT CHRISTIAN BORLE. Tech for what more can i say. He was laying on me. We were shirtless in underpants under the blankets.

Christian: SLOWER

Andrew: he leaned over; He sniffed his armpit and said “I hope you like France”

EVERYONE DIES LAUGHING INCLUDING ME

Christian: i haven’t worn deodorant in 10 years true story

- Christian: i seem to remember holding our pillows and blankets pretending like we were partying on fyre island and Andrew said:

Andrew: WHATS YOUR NAME???

Christian: No no it was something like:

WHAT HOUSE ARE YOU STAYING IN??

Andrew: WHAT HOUSE ARE YOU STAYING IN???

Betsy: James lupine I feel like we’re ruining this show

- Andrew: The shenanigans were real but so was the sadness

Stephanie: We’re real and we’re funny what you gonna do

- Andrew talking about how hard the show was to do: Finding some liberty, It’s a hard world to live in all the time. It was a hard time especially for Christian. I would sometimes go home and cry for no reason

Brandon: Building up emotion with nowhere to put it

Betsy: then Lesbians come in and provide all the levity

Stephanie: Although Dr. Charlotte brings in horrible news

Tracie: Everything’s beautiful at what more can i say and I’m like not so fast

- Tracie always had a funny thing to say

- Who broke character the most on stage?

Anthony Stephanie and Christian

Anthony: it was when I said “I don’t want a bar mitzvah” and I spit in your face a lot and you went like *puts arms up* and someone at stage door was like very condescending like it’s not professional

Christian: Oh my bad we’re people sorry

- Stephanie wrote a line in the show “YOU HAVE PAINTINGS OF DICKS”

- James wanted her to cut off her finger during I’m breaking down

And turn around with a bandaged bloody finger

- Betsy’s nose bleeding during something bad is happening

And Tracie was like something BAD IS HAPPENING

Tracie: Christians throwing up right now

Betsy: Bloody Kleenex up the nose THE SHOW MUST GO ON

- Fan question: Stephanie how do you belt with a banana in your mouth

Christian: Practice practice practice

Stephanie: just shove it in your cheek. But Really that wasn’t supposed to happen

Anthony’s nickname in the rehearsal room was little bananas because he had to gather up all the pieces of stuff after Stephanie shoved the table over with her rear. Sometimes he didn’t have enough time to put it somewhere so he would just put the pieces of banana in his mouth and that’s where it came from

That’s why

- Andrew: Stephanie your glasses are very chic

Stephanie: Oh my gosh thank you *shocked*

- Betsy: Bill was like I’d rather DIE than change lyrics for the pbs special

FLaT aS a LaKe

- Cue everyone accidentally talking over each other and saying what at each other for 30 seconds

Christian: what? what? what?

Who is it?

What’s going on?

- If you could play anyone else in the show who would it be

Anthony said Mendel

Tracie said Mendel

Brandon said Trina

Andrew said marvin

Betsy said whizzer

Stephanie said Mendel

And I honestly couldn’t hear if Christian said anything whoops

- Brandon: If someone could at some point explain to me the Mendel eats dirt meme? People have been Asking me if Mendel eats dirt? I don’t think it’s about Trina Trina is not the dirt. I was overwhelmed. Can someone in the Q&A explain this? *A few seconds later* oh It was from a meme generator?

Christian: Greaat.

Brandon: It’s a fan fiction about Mendel eating dirt and getting aroused by it

Everyone: WHAT

- They still get fan art

Someone recreated the whole soundtrack 8bit and also with KAZOOS

- Brandon: CONGRATS CHRISTIAN ON LULOS WIN FOR LITTLE SHOP. If you haven’t seen Christian in little shop it’s revelatory I’m not just blowing smoke up your ass I have not laughed that hard in a while at the theatre

- Christian talking about little shop

Christian has a 12 inch Batman toy in his dressing room and he misses it

- Ticket prices were getting out of control before corona everyones hoping this will make a difference

Brandon and everyone think it should get more accessible

- Brandon: Hear hear I need a refill

- Stephanie: Your hair looks incredible Brandon (it did)

Christian: She’s been waiting to talk about it for 53 minutes

- Andrew: Well Betsy what I’m wondering is have you crowned yet??

Proceed everyone dying

Brandon, taking a picture of the screen: This moment will go down in history as When Betsy was asked if she was crowning

- Everyone mimicking zoom freezing by starting a sentence and freezing halfway through

- Christian: What new Steven sondheim musical are you excited about Anthony *devilish grin*

Anthony having no idea what Christian is talking about

Christian: Come on Anthony you know the answer. Ugh. The minds of the young. You’re smoking pot now aren’t you??

Christian: We have a lot of fun

- Andrew: I’m trying to get people to pay attention to me

- Christians pretending to be frozen

Cue a lot of yelling: Stephanie BRANDON STEPHANIE

NO CHRISTIAN

Everyone accusing each other of being frozen

NO YOURE FROZEN

- Andrew: Let’s all act like we’re frozen

Steph: I see Andrew acting like hes frozen

Betsy: Watching you do that is killing me

- Listening to the cast recording for the first time together

Stephanie: Why was I the a-hole that couldn’t be there???

Christian: That’s a question only you can answer

- Betsys husband came in everyones like BETSY LOOK OUT

Christian: that scared the shit out of me

- What is marvins last name and what was his line of work

Christian: we definitely said it at some point right? (They didnt) but he was in advertising. What was the last name? Gardens? O’Malley?

- Andrew: Betsys gone oh no

Betsy: I’m right here!!!

Andrew: She’s giving birth (again)

Stephanie: Betsy Wolfe is a ceiling

- Brandon: Welcome back Anthony. You’re here now.

Anthony singing merrily we roll along over Betsy trying to tell a story

Christian: STOP SMOKING POT IN YOUR BEDROOM ANTHONY

- Betsy: Steve (Steven Sondheim) comes to the door I call him steve

Into the woods is the reason Betsy is in theatre

- Betsy: Andrew was nervous singing at the tonys for Book of Mormon and he got dry mouth he sang like 😬I BELIEVE and he licked his lips so much during the song.

Brandon: Did you have a boner then too?

Andrew: GUYS DONT BE DICKS

Stephanie: It’ll be like dry mouth, boner

Andrew: BETSY YOU FUCKIN BITCH ITS ACTUALLY NOT THAT BAD

Stephanie: Bets maybe we should wrap it up

- Brandon sings MARRIAGE PROPOSAL

EVERYONE TELLING HIM TO STOP SINGING I took a video it was beautiful might post that later

- “Tracie Thomas from Lent!”

Tracie having stage fright

Tracie: Billy porter said “oh child we all forget the words” and walked away

- Anthony said WHO SHAT THE BED in four jews once

Anthony: That’s my contribution. Steph got her line, I got who shat the bed

- Steph: We lost andrew oh no

Christian: Um, we lost andrew ten minutes ago. Yeah when Brandon started singing

- Then Betsy sang a song by Bill Finn beautiful

- Steph: Wear your masks and eat pork on wednesdays

That was it!! I hope you enjoyed and people who were there if I got anything wrong that’s my human error it was hard to note everything I wanted to. Smooches! Byee

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lezwatchtv · 6 years

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I’m sorry but I have to shout this: What the actual what!?

I blame Tracy and Courtney for hooking me on this show. But Steven Universe is really one of the more brilliantly crafted shows out there. This is not to say it’s perfect, but it’s definitely one of our favourite shows for a reason. It’s good.

And with the last two episodes that aired in the beginning of May, all I can say without spoilers is WHAT THE ACTUAL WHAT!?

[spoilers]

Seriously, spoilers ahoy.

Bury Your Queers and Love

The beginning of the show, we have a dead mom character. Rose Quartz gave up her ‘life’ to make Steven, and he now has her gem. As the series continues, we learn that Rose was a part of the rebellion, destroyed their leader (Pink Diamond) who wanted to make Earth a slave planet, and dedicated her life to protecting the humans on Earth. She did this with her friends, which include Garnet (a fusion of two different types of Gems) and Pearl, whom we discover was more than just ‘a friend’ and was in an open relationship with Rose.

Naturally Pearl takes it badly when Rose dies to give birth to a son (Steven) she had with a human (Greg Universe), and while she loves Steven, she hates Greg. I think that’s something we can all understand and empathize with. Over time, Pearl comes to terms with this, and grudgingly befriends Greg, but there remains an underlying sadness to her. She lost the love of her life.

Pearl gave up everything, helped Rose defeat Pink Diamond, thought they’d get to live together forever, and then Rose died and left her behind.

The Twist

Except, as we found out on May 7th, Rose didn’t destroy Pink Diamond.

Rose was Pink Diamond.

https://lezwatchtv.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/rose-is-pink.mp4

Pearl was Pink Diamond’s pearl, assumed the form of Rose and pretended to kill Pink Diamond. They faked Pink’s death, allowing Rose to become Rose. Rose’s last order to Pearl was to never speak about it. That order literally meant Pearl was unable to tell anyone, ever, that Pink Diamond was not killed by Rose. Ever.

But wait…

This Was Planned Since Day One

https://twitter.com/ianjq/status/993641677569982465

The moment I read this, I was shocked. I have massive respect for any show that plans their twist from day one, but extra massive props to this on a kids show. And I am even more impressed about the hints that have been layered in the show, like this recent one:

All along, we should have known Rose wasn’t real, that she was actually Pink Diamond.

What Does This Mean For the Gems?

Pearl was totally manipulated by Rose. Literally Rose told her they couldn’t be together unless they faked Pink’s death. Yes, Rose wants to make Earth safe for humans, but she also is the one who has the human zoo. She plays on Pearl’s emotions and her tie of being Rose’s Pearl to get this accomplished. Moreover, it changes the dynamic with Garnet! She too was manipulated into joining the cause, being promised a safe place to be her criminal fusion.

And what does it mean that Rose told Garnet “No more questions” in the same way she told Pearl “Let’s never speak of this again.”

Does this mean Garnet literally has been unable to ask questions about the war and the Crystal Gems’ goals?

Where Do We Go From Here?

So far, all we know for the next episodes is that Garnet splits up:Which, again, I can’t really blame. They were all lied to by Rose all the time, and that just hurts.

I guess we’ll have to wait and see what the actual what has happened on Steven Universe this summer!

Thanks @rebeccasubgar for making us all scream "What the Actual What Just Happened on #StevenUniverse?" I'm sorry but I have to shout this: What the actual what!? I blame Tracy and Courtney for hooking me on this show.

#Steven Universe

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mysymmetry · 4 years

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2019 Reading List updated Feb 11 March 4 April 16 May 14 June 20 July 25 November 26

READ SO FAR:

A Separation, Katie Kitamura (THE ENDING - how in one sentence, it captured the only question you were asking the entire book)

The Guest Cat, Takashi Hiraide (ALSO THE ENDING - WOW)

Solitude, Michael Harris

No One Tells You This, Glynnis MacNicol

It’s OK That You’re Not OK, Megan Devine

Such Good Work, Johannes Lichtman

The Light of the World, Elizabeth Alexander

Congratulations, by the Way, George Saunders

Very Good Lives, JK Rowling

Sick, Porochista Khakpour

Forest Dark, Nicole Krauss

Heart Berries, Terese Marie Mailhot

The Boys, or Waiting for the Electricians Daughter, John Terpstra

The Alchemist, Paulo Coelho

Nothing Good Can Come from This, Kristi Coulter

Blue Nights, Joan Didion

Blue Pastures, Mary Oliver

Coeur de Lion, Ariana Reines

Zen Your Work, Karlyn Borysenko

Horses Make the Landscape More Beautiful, Alice Walker

A Million Little Pieces, James Frey

What My Mother and I Don’t Talk About, ed. Michele Filgate

We Like Feelings. We Are Serious, Julia McIsaac

How Festive the Ambulance, Kim Fu

If They Come For Us, Fatimah Asghar

Florida, Lauren Groff

Hard Child, Natalie Shapero

Upstream, Mary Oliver

How Will You Measure Your Life, Clayton M. Christensen

Okay, Fine, Whatever, Courtenay Hameister

Lagom: The Swedish Art of Balanced Living, Linnea Dunne

The Four Agreements, Don Miguel Ruiz

HAVE ON THE SHELF:

Small Game Hunting, Megan Gale Coles

Speedboat, Renata Adler

Why Did I Ever, Mary Robison

Stereoblind, Emma Healey

Art Objects, Jeanette Winterson

Daylighting Chedoke, John Terpstra

The Young in One Another’s Arms, Jane Rule

Wade in the Water, Tracy K Smith

The Wrong Way to Save Your Life, Megan Stielstra

We Never Learn, Tim Kreider

A Thousand Mornings, Mary Oliver

The Best American Essays 2018, ed. Hilton Als

I Am Not Your Negro, James Baldwin & Raoul Peck

Falling Out of Time, David Grossman

I Become a Delight To My Enemies, Sara Peters

The War of Art, Steven Pressfield

INTENTIONAL STILL TO READ:

Emergent Strategy, Adrienne Maree Brown

Staying with the Trouble, Donna Haraway

Awe, Dorothea Lasky

Delicate Edible Birds, Lauren Groff

The Carrying, Ada Limon

Horse, Talley English

Freshwater, Akwaeke Emezi

Everything Under, Daisy Johnson

Against Everything, Mark Greif

Cult of Loretta, Kevin Maloney

Let’s No One Get Hurt, Jon Pineda

A Visit from the Goon Squad, Jennifer Egan

Inadvertent, Karl Ove Knausgaard

Becoming, Michelle Obama

Spring Garden, Tomoka Shibasaki

Insane, Rainald Goetz

Through Clenched Teeth (Triangle House incl. Sarah Manguso)

Call Me Zebra, Azareen van der Vliet Oloomi

Here’s Your Hat What’s Your Hurry, Elizabeth McCracken

The Accidental Memoir, Eve Makis and Anthony Cropper

I am Her Tribe, Danielle Doby

Nirliit, Juliana LT

Half of a Yellow Sun, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

Milkman, Anna Burns

THE PILE OF HALF-READ BOOKS THAT I AM HOLDING OFF ON FINISHING UNTIL MY HEAD IS IN THE RIGHT SPACE

Go, Went, Gone, Jenny Erpenbeck

Tell Me Everything You Don’t Remember, Christine Hyung-Oak Lee

Tonight I’m Someone Else, Chelsea Hodson

Decreation, Anne Carson

Bright Dead Things, Ada Limon

Eye Level, Jenny Xie

Certain American States, Catherine Lacey

Motherhood, Sheila Heti

Women Talking, Miriam Toews

Memoirs of a Dutiful Daughter, Simone de Beauvoir

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torentialtribute · 5 years

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Sky Bet EFL Q&A: AFC Wimbledon’s Steve Seddon on wanting to change the perception of loan players

AFC Wimbledon left back Steve Seddon is not your typical lender – quiet, modest and perhaps a bit timid on the field

No, the 21-year-old is a joke maker in the dressing room and loves to complain on the field – his words, as he admits in this week's Sky Bet EFL Q&A

In his second loan of the season from Birmingham City after spending the first half in League Two with Stevenage, Seddon has become a crucial figure in the remarkable fight of Wimbledon against relegation to League Two

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AFC Wimbledon defender Steve Seddon has on loan impressed loan from Birmingham"

The Dons have collected 21 points from the last 11 games and go to the Easter weekend with thoughts about survival . That run started with a 1-0 win in Walsall, in which Seddon scored the winner.

He is a fan of American sports, he has a weakness for Creme Eggs and would like to have played the Dutchman Johan Cruyff.

Describe yourself in the field in 3 words.

Passionate about. Aggressive.

Lighthearted.

Describe yourself of the field in 3 words. Happy. Laid back.

My first goal for Wimbledon against Walsall (with a 1-0 win in February). The ball was emptied. I was halfway there. I played it through our middle back and continued on my run. I took another touch and rolled into Michael Folivi, who set up Anthony Wordsworth.

It was the best moment, purely because I had come to Wimbledon with the intention of making a difference here, his shot was saved and I could tap it from about six meters. We were home lost 2-0 to Burton, it was not a good performance and we were on safety with 10 points.

Our goal was terrible compared to everyone's and it just seemed like Rambo (Aaron Ramsdale) had done a few saves and it was a moment that showed me that. I was right when I came to Wimbledon.

It turned out to me that I could do it in League One, like I did in League Two (on loan in Stevenage in the first half of the season) and a

With Wimbledon, the position we were in and still are, you can't put a price on points and that was the result that we are now.

It was my first goal for Wimbledon and I also received a yellow card to exaggerate with the fans.

If we don't manage to stay up, I can't wait to have that feeling, because I'm someone who can't sleep after a game and when we lose, it hurts a lot. I can't wait to go to the summer and feel like we can't, and we couldn't do that.

Who is the most difficult opponent? ]

David Amoo at Cambridge this season.

That will always be a bittersweet memory, because for me and my development it is probably better than that in the game. I can look back on it now and it still hurts to know that someone has the upper hand. He scored their goal (in a 2-0 defeat for Stevenage in Cambridge in January).

I think he was just himself. He is fast and his end product was very good.

I said I'm not going to do that, halfway the field in that match against Cambridge. I played the whole game, but it was the feeling that I knew halfway through time that I would disappoint my teammates, I was not there and David Amoo had gained the upper hand.

It was also for the fans. Stevenage against Cambridge is the derby for them, so I felt that I also abandoned them. It was gone in Cambridge, our fans had traveled and knowing that I had abandoned them was the most embarrassing moment for me.

<img id = "i-1a0385c0f80eb48a" src = "https://dailym.ai/2DkpHWA 22 / 12495244-0-image-m-40_1555708688189.jpg "height =" 418 "width =" 634 "alt =" Seddon admits that he struggled when he raged against Cambridge David Amoo Amoo "

The whole story about borrowers, that they

When I play with fans and I wear the shirt of that club with my name on the back and the badge on the front and fans have traveled to the game, then go I give everything. That's the type of person that I am, wholeheartedly, and if I love the place, I play my best football there. I can say that I have always loved Steven and Wimbledon.

I actually listen to some chilled music before a competition

What song do you get in the mood for a competition? because it only costs one thing and I will get angry. So I don't want to get angry and get pumped to the field for the game because I know I can end up in a stupid tackle or something.

My number that puts me in the mood for everything is at any time & # 39; Fast Car & # 39; from Tracy Chapman. That is my favorite. That makes me happy for everything and I will enjoy what I am doing.

What is your guilty food pleasure? I just love them. Frankly, I can't wait for Easter Sunday because I have given chocolate and candy for Lent. We have a game against Luton on Tuesday, so I'll wait for the Cream Eggs for a while.

I can have a few Sundays and maybe one for the Luton game, but at the end of the season, I'm just going to eat a 12-pack of it.

I used to have Cream Eggs or candy for a competition, but I had to convert it to fruit, so now I take a lever

I'll say Matty Etherington.

What would you like to play alongside? I am a fan of West Ham, just like a child, I zoomed him in the left midfield for West Ham. That was the season in which the FA Cup final against Liverpool was included.

I am not sure if our playing styles match, because he is very left-handed, so he often goes out of the way. So the overlap would not always be for me. But I loved him.

<img id = "i-547c402a556f191e" src = "https://dailym.ai/2vcpOz1 /06027B880000044D-0-image-m-38_1555708643723.jpg "height =" 533 "width =" 634 "alt =" Seddon revealed that the former West Ham winger Matthew Etherington was one of his heroes Matthew Etherington was one of his heroes "

Johan Cruyff. Which famous manager would you like to play? It is totally football. He was the mastermind of all this. You would try to be a sponge around someone like Johan Cruijff and take in everything. I would probably ask you not to put on his shoes to participate in the training. I'd rather not face him.

Choose his football brain and just get his opinion about things.

What I would probably do with my father in the construction industry. He is a builder. What I would like to be is something cool, like a fireman or something.

I really love American sports, American football, basketball, ice hockey, and also baseball. The only person I would like to meet and receive from him is Mookie Betts (outfielder with the Boston Red Sox). He is a great player. I'm a Florida Marlins fan myself, but JB, the physio at Wimbledon, is slowly turning me towards the St. Louis Cardinals.

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thehappymessproject · 5 years

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82-83/100 - A few steps towards tackling procrastination

Ok. I have been procrastinating to translate one of my reports for a couple of weeks. I feel quite foolish : it is long and annoying, not that hard to do, as long as I sit down, and actually do it. But since I committed to get it to the family this week and it is getting me very anxious, I’m decided to do it today, right now.

Well, right after I write this : I figured that it would be a perfect opportunity to talk about how to “straighten up” ourselves in those moments. I know I feel more in control than I ever was about those issues now, but I also know it used to be so much harder and that I still struggle. I can use the help.

I’d say first : you’re not alone. We all suffer from perfectionism and procrastination in some way or another. The ones who don’t procrastinate work often procrastinate pleasure, self-care, or any number of things we can choose as our priorities...or don’t.

The negative and self-deprecating self-talk is surely going to be very clever, mean and choose exactly what will make us want to give-up or postpone forever what we need/want to do. Our inner critic is very powerful and efficient. They mean well though.

Imagine your inner child : sat on the floor, they’re afraid an upset. They don’t know if they’re up to the task, that feels daunting. They really don’t want to feel the discomfort, of being wrong, of not being able to finish, to get it the way we want, to being too slow, too incompetent...

Our inner critic is a bit like a clumsy but very committed bodyguard. Unless we have a very strong inner parent, the second our inner child feels bad, our inner critic will try to shield them from said pain and discomfort, no matter the cost. They don’t think very far, so they don’t realise that their battle, if won, will make the little one more anxious, sad and angry later.

That’s why we need to try to not get too attached to the idea that we need to feel good, in the mood and motivated to actually do things, especially important and hard ones.

When something means a lot to us, we should expect a certain amount of resistance. That’s a price we all have to pay for purpose : real deep purpose is always somehow scary. Steven Pressfield writes in The war of art that it is the job of an artist to face resistance day after day. That’s because art usually gets very personal, hence very scary.

We are not fearful because we are not up to it, we are fearful because it matters.

From there, there is not much around it. We need to feel all those feelings, and do it anyway.

Reason our inner critic won’t work : they always have something to add. Even if we might convince ourselves for a moment that we are up to it and that everything will be fine. But we know deep down that there is always a chance it might not.

Giving into their negotiation won’t work either : there will always be something else we could do before or instead. The negotiating isn’t here because we really need to do or want those other things but to shield our inner child from any discomfort or pain, even for just a moment and at the price of our mental health and accomplishments.

Instead, let’s treat those inner kids with love and benevolence, but also with firmness.

Brian Tracy, an expert of productivity has a concept he calls “Eat that frog”. It is based on Mark Twain’s weird quote “If you eat a live frog first thing every morning, nothing worse will happen to you for the rest of the day”. What that means is simply that when it comes to doing hard or annoying things, the sooner the better. It’s a good rule to keep in mind.

So, here I am, in my bed. I woke up a couple of hours ago and only took the time to meditate to feel awake and alive, to answer some patients’ emails and to eat breakfast. There are so many things I could or would want to do.

My inner critic is very creative : “We didn’t even finish our routine, we should probably do that first” “I’d like to play instead, don’t you want to paint or letter something fun? It’s been a while” “We don’t move enough physically lately, shouldn’t we have a walk first?” “There’s some dishes in the sink, they could really use a wash” “I wanted to send those messages today, we probably won’t be able to if we don’t do it now” “Maybe there’s something cool on Instagram?” “I’m too tired, I didn’t sleep enough, shouldn’t we postpone when we’ll feel better?”

My inner parent needs help. So, following my own advice for perseverance, I make it easy on myself. - I decided it was today that I would do it, so I could finally breathe better, knowing my work was finally done. Then I made my best to make it happen. - I cancelled everything but my online sessions for the day. Warned my partner in crime I needed to have only one priority today. - My phone is on plane mode so I won’t be bothered by notifications and nothing will happen if I distractedly grab my phone. - I’m in my bed because I know it’s harder to feel anxious lying down, especially with fluffy pillows and a blanket. - I have 6 hours before my first appointment, and a 3hrs task tops, so I have a comfortable amount of time. - Translating my own reports is not very demanding at all (it’s actually a bit boring, hence the extra amount of procrastination), so I have the company of an old tv show I enjoy, that I don’t really follow but makes me feel less lonely in my temporary misery. Music could help too. - I’ll make some tea as soon as I’m finished writing, for extra comfort. - Clever bribing always helps : I promised my inner kids that we would paint anything fun and/or order some cool stuff with our Christmas money, as long as we have time before my appointments to motivate everyone to be efficient. - Finally, since writing here is always on my priority list, writing this essay reminds me everything I need to actually start and finish the damn thing.

Other than that, my only job is to say no. No to discussing this. No to protest. No to stalling. I don’t even really engage with my inner critic.

As if my inner critic was a toddler making a tantrum, everything in my power is about staying calm, taking a big breath, and gently take their hand to go anyway once they are out of breath and energy : “I know it’s the worst and we really would do 1000 other things. But we said we’d do it. A family is waiting for us. It won’t change anything to protest, except for making it longer and more annoying.”.

Now, if you don’t mind, I have an annoying task to tackle and finally put behind me.

See you soon, Love, L.

#procrastination #perfectionism #perseverance #writers helping writers #counselling #therapist #psychologist #writer #100 days project #100 days of writing #the happy mess project

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gardencityvegans · 7 years

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Weekend Reading, 10.1.17

http://www.thefullhelping.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/weekend_reading.jpg

Happy October! I feel as though I’m constantly making remarks in these posts about how quickly time is flying, so I should probably just accept that pace as the nature of things. But, seriously: time is flying. I can’t believe September has already come and gone.

In looking back on this month, I can definitely see that some of the overwhelm I was feeling this week is due to my having been a lot more open and social than I have been in a long time. Yes, there’s school and work and the usual things to do, but I’m also out and about a lot more often.

It wasn’t until last week, when I was reflecting on Rosh Hashanah this year, that I realized how much anxiety about leaving the safety of my home space had been weighing on me. So much was alien and unfamiliar after my breakup with Steven that my apartment became more of a refuge than it ever had been. I needed my home space to keep me tethered to something constant and steady, but at a certain point I think I started leaning on it too heavily, enveloping myself in solitude because it felt less scary than engaging with the world around me.

Now I’m pushing myself to have a more open posture. I’m not pushing too hard: I’m still giving myself plenty of time to feel safe and grounded and rooted down in my space. But I am trying to get out more often, to see and do new things, to connect socially, and to see how it feels not to stay alone with myself quite so much. Prague was a step forward, a literal and figurative adventure. And since my return, I’ve kept the momentum going by making more plans, being more spontaneous, and gently challenging my routines.

For the most part, it feels good. In the last two weeks, I may have taken it a little too far, and by Friday of this week I was feeling a sense of dizziness, an eagerness to be in my home and to rest. I heeded that urge, and for the most part I’ve had a calm and quiet weekend. The week ahead feels balanced: some time with friends, some new people to meet, and space for myself and my work, too.

To avoid extremes is never easy work for me. I’m getting better, but my natural inclination is always to dwell in intense spaces. I respect my passionate temperament, but I’ve learned that my mental and physical health depends greatly on my striving for equilibrium as best I can. I’m feeling proud of myself for venturing outside of the comfort zone lately, but also for having had the good sense to heed the signs of overwhelm when they hit me this past week, so that I could recalibrate a little.

I hope the week ahead brings you a balance of everything you need. Here are some of the recipes and links I’m enjoying this morning.

Recipes

I love a good sheet pan of roasted sprouts, don’t get me wrong, but I have to admit that I’m almost as partial to them when they’re shaved and sautéed (as in this hash) or simply added to a salad (like this tasty kale and Brussels sprout salad). Now Steven’s got a recipe for Brussels sprout fried rice that I’m dying to try.

I’m always looking for quinoa burger recipes that will be sturdy and toothsome (lots of the ones I’ve tried are tasty, but fall apart easily). This pumpkin and quinoa burger looks like it fits the bill. (The site is in Dutch, but you can use Google translate to see the recipe in English.)

A bright, vibrant flatbread for fall. This one features roasted butternut hummus, chickpeas, Brussels sprouts, and apple. So much flavor and texture!

A protein-rich, nutritious vegan pasta supper: smoky tofu bolognese. I’ve seen vegan bolognese recipes with legumes and mushrooms, and I love this departure.

I can’t wait to make a giant pot of Traci’s harissa stewed black-eyed peas with okra and collard greens, and then to eat it on a cool, autumn evening. Yum.

Reads

1. A rising global demand for meat is good news for the pharmaceutical industry, but it enhances the growing threat of antibiotic resistance.

2. My post-bacc experience taught me so much about the value of “failure”: not just experiencing it and learning from it, but also talking about it, and thereby creating a culture where we celebrate the value of rejection and wrong turns along with triumph and apparent successes. I really like this article, and I think it applies not only to the sciences, but to other professions as well.

3. Speaking of professional life, a really interesting article on the tremendous toll that incivility takes in workplaces.

4. Research suggests that a punishment-oriented, ultra-disciplinary approach works poorly with challenging kids. A new approach—one that underscores kids’ sense of their own competence and problem-solving skills—shows a lot of promise. This article has the details.

5. Mozambique has the eighth highest global prevalence of HIV infection. Mosaic tells the story of a group of female sex workers who—in spite of political and financial challenges—are proactively helping thousands of people on the margins of their society.

Enjoy the reads. Coming up this week, a hearty, perfectly seasonal stew recipe, courtesy of awesome vegan cookbook author Celine Steen. I can’t wait to share it, along with news of her latest work. Till soon!

[Read More ...] http://www.thefullhelping.com/weekend-reading-10-1-17/

#infrared #health

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mysymmetry · 5 years

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2019 Reading List updated Feb 11 March 4 April 16 May 14 June 20 July 25

READ SO FAR:

A Separation, Katie Kitamura (THE ENDING - how in one sentence, it captured the only question you were asking the entire book)

The Guest Cat, Takashi Hiraide (ALSO THE ENDING - WOW)

Solitude, Michael Harris

No One Tells You This, Glynnis MacNicol

It’s OK That You’re Not OK, Megan Devine

Such Good Work, Johannes Lichtman

The Light of the World, Elizabeth Alexander

Congratulations, by the Way, George Saunders

Very Good Lives, JK Rowling

Sick, Porochista Khakpour

Forest Dark, Nicole Krauss

Heart Berries, Terese Marie Mailhot

The Boys, or Waiting for the Electricians Daughter, John Terpstra

The Alchemist, Paulo Coelho

Nothing Good Can Come from This, Kristi Coulter

Blue Nights, Joan Didion

Blue Pastures, Mary Oliver

Coeur de Lion, Ariana Reines

Zen Your Work, Karlyn Borysenko

Horses Make the Landscape More Beautiful, Alice Walker

A Million Little Pieces, James Frey

What My Mother and I Don’t Talk About, ed. Michele Filgate

We Like Feelings. We Are Serious, Julia McIsaac

How Festive the Ambulance, Kim Fu

If They Come For Us, Fatimah Asghar

Florida, Lauren Groff

HAVE ON THE SHELF:

Speedboat, Renata Adler

Hard Child, Natalie Shapero

Why Did I Ever, Mary Robison

Stereoblind, Emma Healey

Art Objects, Jeanette Winterson

Daylighting Chedoke, John Terpstra

The Young in One Another’s Arms, Jane Rule

Upstream, Mary Oliver

Wade in the Water, Tracy K Smith

The Wrong Way to Save Your Life, Megan Stielstra

We Never Learn, Tim Kreider

A Thousand Mornings, Mary Oliver

The Best American Essays 2018, ed. Hilton Als

I Am Not Your Negro, James Baldwin & Raoul Peck

Falling Out of Time, David Grossman

Female Chauvinist Pigs, Ariel Levy

I Become a Delight To My Enemies, Sara Peters

The War of Art, Steven Pressfield

INTENTIONAL STILL TO READ:

Emergent Strategy, Adrienne Maree Brown

Staying with the Trouble, Donna Haraway

How Will You Measure Your Life, Clayton M. Christensen

Awe, Dorothea Lasky

Delicate Edible Birds, Lauren Groff

The Carrying, Ada Limon

Horse, Talley English

Freshwater, Akwaeke Emezi

Everything Under, Daisy Johnson

Against Everything, Mark Greif

Cult of Loretta, Kevin Maloney

Let’s No One Get Hurt, Jon Pineda

A Visit from the Goon Squad, Jennifer Egan

Inadvertent, Karl Ove Knausgaard

Becoming, Michelle Obama

Spring Garden, Tomoka Shibasaki

Insane, Rainald Goetz

Through Clenched Teeth (Triangle House incl. Sarah Manguso)

Call Me Zebra, Azareen van der Vliet Oloomi

Here’s Your Hat What’s Your Hurry, Elizabeth McCracken

The Accidental Memoir, Eve Makis and Anthony Cropper

I am Her Tribe, Danielle Doby

Nirliit, Juliana LT

Half of a Yellow Sun, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

Milkman, Anna Burns

THE PILE OF HALF-READ BOOKS THAT I AM HOLDING OFF ON FINISHING UNTIL MY HEAD IS IN THE RIGHT SPACE

Go, Went, Gone, Jenny Erpenbeck

Tell Me Everything You Don’t Remember, Christine Hyung-Oak Lee

Tonight I’m Someone Else, Chelsea Hodson

Decreation, Anne Carson

Bright Dead Things, Ada Limon

Eye Level, Jenny Xie

Certain American States, Catherine Lacey

Motherhood, Sheila Heti

Women Talking, Miriam Toews

Memoirs of a Dutiful Daughter, Simone de Beauvoir

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