no rest for the wicked

I must be doing something right.

accountingwitch — Thu, 21 Feb 2019 03:21:39 GMT

Our baby is almost always smiling, curious about whatever is going on around her, and "baby sciencing" everything (mostly tasting).

PUKE!

accountingwitch — Sat, 22 Dec 2018 03:03:58 GMT

Lately you've been throwing up a lot. It isn't your fault: we're trying to get more solids into you, but my breast milk is already doing a lot. You're really enjoying those Mum mum rice crackers, and you might have figured out a straw!

When you threw up on me tonight, I put you in a laundry basket and took you into the shower with me. You loved it! You liked having the water rain on you, and sticking your face in and out of it. There was also a bit of depth to the basket, so whenever I was using the shower you splashed the pool you had with you.

Tomorrow we're driving up to Cornwall for Christmas with Grandpa. Try not to cry!

accountingwitch — Sun, 24 Jun 2018 19:27:48 GMT

The scream of rage and betrayal when a baby headbutts into Dad's stubble.

Death Note (2017)

accountingwitch — Fri, 01 Sep 2017 00:22:31 GMT

So my general rule (right now) is to not compare something to its original work. There are a few movies that I thoroughly enjoyed, such as Battle Royale and The Bourne Identity, but when you compare them to the source work and their inability to stay faithful to it, they look poor in comparison. A lot of things just don't translate well from book to film format, or many other cross-media translations, and I find it better to try to look at the work itself as its own interpretation without having its forefather shadow it.

The Netflix "Death Note" was interesting, and I feel it was purposely pandering to American stereotypes. The edgy genius who sells completed homework, the dark cheerleader who learns to purposefully rebel, the unsympathetic genius with weird obsessions, the embittered detective who can't see the truth in front of him. It flaunted a lot of American film cliches, and it was very hard to get past that.

Of all the featured characters, I liked L the most. I liked the quirkiness and abruptness he showed when outside of his comfort zone. He's the kind of guy you'll want to work with because he gets things done, but not go out for a drink with after hours. I admired his fall from (let's be blunt) trained attack dog to someone who is barely able to function when things fall apart for him.

I didn't like Detective Turner (Light's father). I thought he'd be more active in the role of hunting Light. To be reasonable, L kind of usurped him, but he just seemed...there.

As for Light and Mia, I'm divided. At first Mia really pissed me off as a stereotype, but eventually she warmed up to me as a teenager who sees power and all of its pretty trappings. Light struck me as forced as well - I thought he was supposed to be smart, and instead of laying low he blurts everything out to the world - but he's another hormonal teenager who plays right along with Mia's desires. He has no criminal or legal background, unlike the original Light, and alongside with his distinctly not-Japanese background he has his own unique path. He has a Moment of Awesome near the end, which I really enjoyed, and helped put together at least some of the elements I saw throughout the film.

This adaptation of Death Note really plays itself as an adaptation to American audiences. I'm trying not to make direct comparison, but there are a lot of Japanese references that the average American viewer wouldn't get, so it's a fun way to get the basic concept out to this side of the world.

I do see some quirks trying to pay homage to the source material, such as Ryuk eating apples or L's obsession with candy. In this adaptation though, they come off as overdone. Take L's mountains of candy around L: instead, him constantly snacking on things would've gotten the point across that he likes sweets. Something subtle, but Americans aren't subtle, are they. There could have been other homages: it would've been hilarious to see the original creators' Japanese names written in the Death Note, for example.

I'm not even sure why they placed it in Seattle. Was it for the Ferris wheel and other landmarks? Or the gloomy atmosphere that Forks, Washington had in the Twilight series? Or just "generic American city" for the new audience?

Little things that bothered me: I dislike that we didn't know all the rules. There were a LOT of rules written in there, and stereotypical American teenager doesn't bother reading them all. ("THERE ARE A LOT OF RULES!") There was an extended chase sequence that really pissed me off, because the characters involved are definitely not very physical, so watching them run the entire length of the city had me questioning things.

By itself, Death Note (2017) is under par. It tries to play up the horror and American-ness with over-the-top sequences when quiet surprise or an unsettled feeling would be scarier; there's something to be said when the scare appears when you least expect it. The references to the original Death Note feel strange and unnecessary because of the bombastic nature of the film, and when you factor in if you've actually seen the Japanese versions, they feel more like flags screaming, "LOOK, WE'RE TOTALLY ASSOCIATED WITH THE FRANCHISE!"

Valerian

accountingwitch — Tue, 25 Jul 2017 22:32:48 GMT

I saw Valerian over the weekend.

Overall, I enjoyed the movie. Visually great, snappy dialogue, a lot of "show, don't tell" (which is a big deal to me).

I do think they could've done without the entire Rihanna-involved plot though. Granted, the dance was incredible to watch, but plot-wise they could've gotten rid of everything from the butterflies to the trash scenes and the movie would have still run to the same conclusion. If they had really wanted Rihanna dancing, they could have fit it somewhere else.

Rough day.

accountingwitch — Fri, 26 May 2017 16:21:13 GMT

Woke up feeling depressed. But a few texts and phone calls to help people out of binds, plus homemade cherry mochi, and I'm feeling a big better.

LARP!

accountingwitch — Fri, 12 May 2017 14:38:56 GMT

Planning to head out to game just for Sunday, as I can't afford to take too much time off of my Saturday students (two have exams in six weeks) and it's kinda cold for me to camp. I like the upcoming changes for my character, but really need time to play through them to see if they're viable.

(My character, a Gnome, now has the racial disadvantage of being allergic to magical items. In a dark medieval fantasy game. I am more curious than horrified, really.)

It's also a lot less stressful to pack just for a day trip than for a whole weekend. I'm a bit of a princess who likes her creature comforts; when I go to game I need my bed, my fresh set of clothes, my ability to stay clean, lots and lots of food... As a day trip I'm just concerned about my character tags and the amount of food I need for a few hours.

What.

accountingwitch — Sat, 06 May 2017 00:44:00 GMT

*starts reading a thread about when part 2 of a game will be coming out*

*six pages later, commenters are ripping into an analogy involving WWI's post-war treaties*

And this is why I don't get involved in fandoms.

On a related note, if you're into life simulations and text adventures, Academagia: Year One is pretty good. VERY steep learning curve and the small text hurts my eyes, but after two completed playthroughs I'm getting a feel of how to maximize character opportunities.

"my husband is too embarrassed to turn this in"

accountingwitch — Mon, 01 May 2017 18:18:47 GMT

Casino cashier: "How're you doing?"
Me: *slams the $5 chip consisting of all her winnings on the counter*

Dango!

accountingwitch — Wed, 26 Apr 2017 16:35:17 GMT

I made dango (again) today.

I used the recipe featured here and thought it was pretty easy. Also, I live down the street from Chinese supermarkets, so picking up the TWO ingredients I needed was not a huge deal.

The first time around, I think my proportions were wrong, as I needed to add twice as much flour to the dough. I don't think I added enough sugar (or I have a strong preference for extremely sweet). For a first attempt, it was pretty good - a bit on the squishy and slimy side, but it was edible.

I went out again to pick up matcha powder and non-glutinous rice flour. Matcha for the flavour, flour to try an alternative recipe. (I'm allergic to soy.) This time around I made a much smaller batch, measuring out the tofu and adding flour as I went, then split the two balls to add matcha to one. Upped the sugar and did not add vanilla extract, which I suspect made my balls slimy last time around, and kept an eye on the timer this time.

They came out really well! I could get used to making these for myself!

Sports sports sports.

accountingwitch — Mon, 24 Apr 2017 03:55:39 GMT

So one of the parents on Saturday offered me hardboiled eggs. I like eggs. I also like being able to eat, because as someone who's more-or-less self-employed that means I can do things like "not have mandatory lunch breaks in the name of efficiency" and y'know pay the consequences later.

I asked for a glass of cold water. When I got my eggs, I put them in the glass.

The mother stared in confusion. I pulled my eggs out after a while and easily pulled apart the shells. The mother was then amazed at how I know so much random useful stuff."

"...I'm on the Internet a lot."

In other news, the local sports team lost their match. On the upside, moving on to other alcoholic drinks.

With the next set of exams rolling in in 6-8 weeks, I feel like these may be a necessity soon.

Sounds and arrangements

accountingwitch — Sat, 22 Apr 2017 01:49:09 GMT

Usually when I compose, I get bogged down in details - namely "how complicated can I make a chord progression". And then I get stuck.

I woke up hearing this in my head as strings and thought it had a very Zelda feel to it, so I wrote it out. I actually managed to complete it, but for some reason my streamer stopped recording the audio. Forte Notation 7 Basic, the software I'm using, is also prone to crashing a lot (I lost a lot of time throughout the day recreating lost work) and I suspect it's so I buy the upgrade. I'm seriously considering it.

Additionally, my headset has been giving me microphone problems. I've had my Razer Kraken for over a year and because I kept running over the cord, I've probably damaged it beyond repair. The weird thing is the headset works...but the microphone doesn't.

I bought a new headset: Steelseries Siberia 150. It's the cheapest of the Steelseries and much cheaper than the Kraken. I can feel the quality difference as it goes from analog to digital sound and the headset is much more comfortable, almost nothing there (the Kraken is very heavy on me). If I was more of a sound pro, I'd definitely buy the better versions - I tried them out, super comfy - but this is a cheaper-on-the-wallet-yet-quality upgrade.

Here's hoping I can record what I actually completed can be recorded tomorrow. I'm rather pleased with it, I normally get frustrated and abandon projects, but admittedly I'm not a super-strong composer (I like BGM and find it hard to compose a coda).

EDIT: recorded!

Yay cracked finger.

accountingwitch — Thu, 13 Apr 2017 17:47:51 GMT

About two weeks ago I slammed my finger in a doorjamb. My left pinky hurt like HELL for the weekend, but it gradually faded to an annoyance.

After two weeks I was concerned about the on-and-off pain, so I saw my doctor this morning.

Bad news, the finger likely has a crack in it. Good news, just leave it alone for a few weeks and it will fix itself.

...it's still irritating when I want to do things like type or play piano though.

What a time to be alive.

accountingwitch — Mon, 03 Apr 2017 14:13:14 GMT

If I really wanted to, I could order someone to go to my current favourite bubble tea place and bring my order to me.

why we'll never open up our relationship

accountingwitch — Wed, 29 Mar 2017 13:53:46 GMT

So one time Peter and I were playing SWTOR. It was a lot of fun - we were Chiss, he was a Bounty Hunter and I was an Imperial Agent. Great story.

Now as a buff bounty hunter, Peter's character was flirting with women left right and centre (and they right back). I had no problem with this, since I saw it more as funny and slightly awkward (and, y'know, video game characters).

As a female Chiss Imperial Agent... there's a quest line involving a male Chiss aristocrata. At the end of your successful mission, he takes you into his arms for a deep kiss, the scene cuts to black, and you get a romantic letter later saying that if times weren't as they were he'd marry you (but he'll have to settle for meritocratic adoption to their noble house, which gains you all sorts behind-the-scenes benefits in the Chiss aristocracy).

Peter was so outraged.

<3

Experimenting with names.

accountingwitch — Sun, 12 Mar 2017 20:50:48 GMT

My online handles are pretty cute or feminine. More recently, I started using a forum with a distinctly unisex name, and my Steam account to plain Chinese characters (the origin of the username, which appears feminine).

It's been interesting. Maybe I'm biased, but it was nice having conversations with people in PD2. Normally people don't talk to me, or there's a good deal of arguing. Had some games where we just got along, and that was fine for me.

Maybe it's a one-off thing though. Willing to see how this plays out.

Teacher and counselor.

accountingwitch — Thu, 10 Nov 2016 15:00:54 GMT

So sometimes, instead of a piano lesson, my students realize I'm a font of random knowledge (plus have a teaching degree) and instead of spending all the time on a piano lesson, they ask if I can provide homework help instead. And I'm okay with that, because I tell them that this is their choice: if they cannot focus for 30 minutes on a piano lesson because their schoolwork is killing them, then it's up to them to decide that this is a more effective use of our time.

One student had to make up a 500-word fantasy story, based on a specific theme/lesson. And that was it. So for her lesson I explained how I build a story - to draw a map or web and connect major concepts, and write everything down as she thinks of them. And in those 30 minutes we had the bare bones of her story, something she would've struggled mightily to do on her own.

I do think it's a better use of my time. I'm finding that homework these days has higher expectations but not enough structure or instructions on how to get there, and while this particular student is independent, she doesn't know who to ask to get these kinds of questions answered. Things we know actually have a process that doesn't come automatically to new people.

More music?

accountingwitch — Tue, 01 Nov 2016 23:49:42 GMT

I really want to learn another instrument. It's mostly making the discipline and time commitment to do so.

In the running:

* Recorder. The RCM offers an examination in it, the instrument is cheap, I'm fairly certain I can self-teach myself. I don't know any recorder teachers.
* Harp. There's a hand-carved pixie harp selling for under $300, and it'd be great for LARP. I am not confident in instrument maintenance.
* Cello. It's big and beautiful and will allow me to do ensemble work more easily, and I can rent for $40/month (quite reasonable). The teacher is only available on weekends, which are reserved for work/family time.
* Idiopan. The notes are harmonized so you can improvise your own melodies (improvisation is something I struggle with). It doesn't really have any melodies, though.

These are just ideas, since right now I don't have the time or focus, but I'm shopping around on something to add to my repertoire.

http://www.mid-east.com/Drums/Idiopan

what a day.

accountingwitch — Sun, 09 Oct 2016 15:37:40 GMT

Thanksgiving dinner was great. We noticed that the weather was cool outside, so we tried sleeping with a window open.

Except for the part where we have allergies, so I didn't sleep very much, Peter snored, and today my brain is entirely devoted to keeping me breathing.

Feeling pretty good about myself today.

accountingwitch — Thu, 29 Sep 2016 19:02:47 GMT

Woke up when Peter did (crack of dawn, in my opinion). Packed him a lunch and snacks for his day at work.

Actually ate breakfast (apples/yogurt) and two small meals (rice/vegetables/slices of meat). Spent a lot of time breaking down and prepping food - sauteing onions, peeling tangerines, etc. - because I don't mind food prep, and doing food prep AND cooking is mentally a lot of work for me. In between that, wiped down both the bathroom and washroom, vacuumed about half the house and mopped our greasy kitchen floor.

Days that I don't do anything - sit in front of the computer and surf the 'net or play games - feel really unsatisfying. So yeah, I'm feeling pretty good today about actually getting things done today, right before taking off for work.

Well that's not terrifying.

accountingwitch — Tue, 20 Sep 2016 02:33:43 GMT

I got the oil changed in my car about two weeks ago. Since then, the car's been...noisy. That's the only way I can describe it. This dull din tht makes it difficult to talk to passengers or listen to music.

I took it back to the oil change place. After doing a round around the block, the oil change guy issued me a no-charge receipt, which says, "TAKE TO MECHANIC ASAP".

Yay repertoire!

accountingwitch — Mon, 08 Aug 2016 04:26:00 GMT

So recently I played background for my student's wedding reception (he's my age and 'finally' getting married). Some sound issues, but overall I had a great time playing for him.

My repertoire was a hit with a lot of people. A lot of people spent time playing the "guess this song" game. I think it's because my repertoire doesn't include a lot of classical: it's hard to sing along with that, and it's kind of ho hum standard expectations. There are a few I'll throw in because it's expected, but I think it's refreshing to hear modern songs played on a classical instrument.

(Simplified) repertoire includes:

Adele - Skyfall
Beethoven - Moonlight Sonata
Beauty and the Beast - Medley
Ben E King - Stand By Me
Bill Withers - Lean On Me
Bruno Mars - Just The Way You Are
Bruno Mars - When I Was Your Man
Celine Dion/Andrea Bocelli - The Prayer
The Eagles - Hotel California
Edith Piaf - La Vie En Rose
Elton John - Can You Feel The Love Tonight
Errol Gardner - Misty
Final Fantasy 6 - Aria di Mezzo Carattere
Francis Lai - Love Story (Where Do I Begin)
Frozen - Let It Go
Game of Thrones - Light of the Seven
Game of Thrones - Theme
Glen Hansard and Marketa Irglova - Falling Slowly
Gravity Falls - Theme
Hozier - Take Me To Church
Imagine Dragons - Radioactive
John Lennon - Imagine
Legend of Zelda - Kakariko Village
Legend of Zelda - Princess Zelda
Louis Claude Daquin - Le Coucou
MAGIC! - Rude
Michael Bublé - It's a Beautiful Day
Michael Jackson - Will You Be There
One Direction - Steal My Girl
Pachelbel - Canon in D
Tangled - I See The Light

Also my shoulders and wrists really hurt.

So. Pokemon Go.

accountingwitch — Fri, 22 Jul 2016 00:06:42 GMT

I downloaded it and played it. It got me out of the house and I can see the appeal.

I'm on the fence about continuing, because the security issues scare me. I don't think I have a lot to hide from people who are interested in my data - in some ways I actually encourage it because I like seeing ads geared towards me - but it creeps me out too much.

I already have Zombies, Run! and will probably stick to that, collecting supplies for my fortifications and getting a compelling storyline alongside it.

CPR courses!

accountingwitch — Wed, 20 Jul 2016 20:11:21 GMT

I dislike doing CPR courses.

I understand why they're a necessity. I work with small children and it's mandatory for my employer. It needs to be renewed every year or I can't stay employed with my current employer. (The employer's pretty nice, staying on for the security.)

Before, I didn't have much of an issue with it, because I lived in the city. This time around, I can't get downtown early enough to do the course - as in I will be half-asleep while driving, which I'm pretty sure is unsafe. (I was supposed to be there today - nope, way too late.)

As I'm trying to negotiate a new time, it occurred to me that I could find my CPR training by myself, instead of through my employer.

Turns out there's a location a 10-minute drive away from me. Legislation means that because it's a new provider, I need to redo everything, which really pisses me off. I also really, REALLY hate the theory portion - where they explain everything to you, like you've never done it before, because I have and it kind of pisses me off that I have to sit there and politely listen to them when I can do the reading myself in less than a day.

Fortunately, this new provider has a "blended" course, where you can do the theory portion online, then go in for the practical. And I don't have to waste most of my day in transit!

CPR courses mostly annoy me, though, because I've been doing them so often. Case in point: did one in Taiwan. In translated Mandarin. So yeah, I know the procedure.

Also, I picked up Pokemon GO, but don't want to talk about it to other people because they'll ask me about teams or collection or crap and this looks like a game I'd rather just be by myself to play and enjoy and progress at my own rate. Also I'm just tired of seeing my Facebook feed covered in Pokemon GO. I mean, I understand posting things you love, but I'm actively trying not to join the flood.

Conversation mores.

accountingwitch — Mon, 18 Jul 2016 01:39:41 GMT

If you don't know how to react, "that's good/bad", "thank you" and "I'm sorry" cover a wide range of responses. Conversely, "I would've" or "you should've/could've" is a terrible response to anything unless asked for.

I am trying not to sound sarcastic (and I'm too angry to entertain cynical 'what if' questions that don't fit the mold), but I am tired of people not knowing this. I do not care if you have some mental disability, are extremely shy, or claim to not know social mores: this is a pretty easy rule set to learn that applies to most social interactions. I think if you're geniunely interested in getting along with your peers, you'll make an effort to do this.

I also strongly recommend that when in a conversation with someone, do not hijack it to whatever you want to talk about (namely, yourself). A great response to "I did a thing" or "something happened" is "tell me more". A less ideal response is "I did a thing like it too!", then talk about your experience. I stop responding when someone does that, because it's freakin' rude. (It's a fairly successful passive-aggressive response, because they (usually) realize after a silence what they've done and awkwardly try to get the conversation back on track.)