I am insanely proud of these cushions, made as they are by my own fair hands. But I wanted to do something else too. And clearly I have talked a lot about sewing because for every recent birthday and Christmas I have received sewing related goods. I really need to make good on this new ‘hobby’ of mine.

So…back to making a quilt. I will be attempting (and I do stress the attempting part) to make this quilt. I imagine it will take me quite some time, and I also imagine it won’t look nearly as good as the one I am linking to, but it does say it’s a beginner’s quilt. And I will do my best. I’ve got all the kit now anyway, so…no more excuses.

I used to really like Zooey Deschanel. I think she’s a good actress, smart and funny. I followed her website Hello Giggles! and enjoyed her performances in films. I got annoyed when people didn’t like her as Summer in (500) Days of Summer, when they said she was a bitch or messed Tom around. To me they missed the point. We never got to see Summer through her own eyes, she was a fragment of a character, only seen through Tom’s. When he loved her we did, and when he disliked her, so did we. It’s not her story, it’s Tom’s. She’s quite up front with him about her feelings. She doesn’t believe in love, doesn’t want a relationship. I was a little invested.

So I thought I’d really enjoy her new TV series, New Girl. I’d read fairly decent reviews, though of course they added the caveat that how much you enjoy the show will depend on how much you like Zooey D.  After watching the first two episodes, I totally get that. It’s great that there’s a sitcom with a female lead, and that it’s doing well, but does she have to be that girl? The one who can’t really function? The one who needs men to protect her and can’t really stand up for herself? The one that prefers to act like a little girl, rather than a grown up? I admit, I’m not always the most together person, but I don’t walk around making big eyes at everyone, pouting and singing. I know that in last night’s episode, Jess eventually got mad at her ex and got her stuff back, but god, have some backbone. And I used to live with girls who sang and it drove me mad. (They were opera singers so doing scales at 7 am on a Saturday had a point, but it didn’t make it any less annoying.)

I preferred her earlier roles in Almost Famous and The Good Girl, when she was more edgy had less ‘kook’. Those characters had bite, used sarcasm and were fairly deadpan. They didn’t waft around twirling their skirts and sobbing to themselves on the sofa while watching Dirty Dancing. Yes, a lot of ladies do that when heartbroken, or some equivalent, but that’s the best you can do? You can’t come up with another way to show her as a well rounded character? The fact that she’s a teacher is actually quite terrifying. How on Earth does she control the kids, surely they walk all over her? A lot of this could be overlooked some if the show were even remotely funny, but I didn’t crack a smile during the last episode until the very end, and that was due to Schmidt. I’m just a little over the so cute you could die aspect of it. If her character could be a little more together, a little less zany, and more a complete and true person, I could maybe keep going with it. But at the moment I just want to grab her and shake her.

There will be spoilers for the book here, so beware.

Sisterhood Everlasting is the fifth book in the Travelling Pants series by Ann Brashares. It takes place ten years after Forever in Blue, when the pants were lost and the girls were looking to their futures. I’d read somewhere that one of the girls would die in this book, but I sort of dismissed it as it seemed unlikely. I wish it had been, but sadly I was wrong. As the book begins we get a cursory back story for three of the girls. Carmen is an actress with a bit part on a weekly show, and an ass of a fiance, living in New York. Bee is in California with Eric, not doing much but still wanting to be on the move. Lena is teaching and still mostly avoiding her life. But Tibby is missing, off to Australia with Brian for a couple of years with very little contact and no visits in between. What’s going on with Tibby? The other girls are about to find out when she finally reaches out and organises a trip to Greece, where the pants were lost. But then, tragedy strikes.

I really enjoyed the earlier books, and even the first film based on them, as the friendships always seemed real, as did the characters and how they interacted and went about their lives. I didn’t feel that as much with this one, and that comes down to the death. When I heard there might be a death I did think about who I’d prefer it to be. I have favourites of course, but I figured I’d be ok with it for the most part, as long as it wasn’t Tibby. Funny, awkward, wonderful Tibby, who isn’t really like me at all, but whom I have always identified with. And, of course, it was Tibby after all. I was so sad reading that part of the book, I could hardly continue with it. And then I spent the rest of the book mostly angry with the rest of them. For thinking that Tibby would kill herself. Tibby! As the reader I don’t think I have any more information than they, her best friends, do, and yet I was able to see quite clearly that that is something she would never do, especially not in such a cruel way – inviting them all to Greece only for them to have to identify her body? You’d have to be a seriously fucked up person to do that, and even after a couple of years away I don’t think Tibby could have become that messed up. It seemed obvious to me that her letters meant that she was sick, but her friends never even thought about it. Instead they went back to their lives and did a terrible job with them, until Tibby sorted them out from beyond the grave. I think she deserved better than that.

It felt like Brashares killed off her most interesting character to give the others something to do, and then they don’t even really do anything anyway. Lena goes off and mopes about Kostos, as usual. This being a relationship of yearning and being apart and not really real at all. Bee runs away, as usual, though at least she redeemed herself slightly by finally going to find Brian. And Carmen dives into her career and wedding, ignoring her own feelings, as usual. At some point these girls need to grow up, right? If I’m honest I’d have preferred if Carmen had died, seeing as she’s the least likable of the lot. She’s selfish and self-absorbed, and I’m not sure why I’m supposed to care about her really. She’s the voice of the books in the early ones, the ‘heart’, but she’s pretty dreadful in this one. Her friend died and she’s obsessing about a phone, before having an epiphany on a train. Hers were my least favourite parts to read.

I wish it had been different. I wish they had been better and done better by Tibby. I can’t really fault the writing, as it is engaging and I really didn’t want to put it down, even when I was mad at it, but there was definitely something missing. Or someone.

I got back on Friday and me and Max spent NYE at a friend’s house being beaten at Trivial Pursuit. Since then I’ve mostly vegged out and attempted to make a dent in the massive amounts of chocolate and biscuits we have acquired over the festive season. Yesterday we went for a 5 mile skate around the Emirates, so at least I don’t feel as guilty for all the crap I’ve been eating.

Max is back at work today (just for the day) but I am not. The Carrie of December gets bonus points for booking an extra week off, though she’ll lose them again when I go back and remember all the crap she left me with. I am already not looking forward to going back to work, although the dread started about three days in to my holiday. It’ll be next Monday before I know it.

I got some lovely things for Christmas, some new knee pads from Max for roller derby, many books, a big photo frame from my bro as I’d said I wanted stuff for the walls in our flat, which are very bare, a tea set and the aforementioned chocolate.

One of my favourite things about this holiday has been Max reading The Hunger Games. He’s not a big reader usually, so seeing him race through these books – and his passionate arguments for Team Peeta – have just about made my month. I loved the books too, as you can see here, but I was Team Gale in the beginning. Max cannot comprehend this. Why Gale? He doesn’t do anything? Peeta is awesome! He bakes! He’s romantic! He’s totally your type! Gale would do your nut in! You hate outdoorsy types. And on and on. He also keeps guessing what will happen next, though he’s mostly been wrong on that. Can’t wait to see how he feels about the ending.

And here we are in 2012. I may attempt to update this place a bit more, but I can’t promise it. I contemplated doing another Cannonball Read, and maybe I will keep a better record of my books, but I don’t think I want to do one officially. I’ve been seeing a lot of blogs reviewing 2011 and all the things people did in their year and I feel, as usual, woefully behind. Other than starting a new job, joining roller derby and moving in with Max, I haven’t really accomplished all that much. Maybe 2012 will be different, but since I’m very much a slacker, it probably won’t.

It’s cool, the meltdown is over, we are back to liking each other again now. He’ll try to do better with the chores, and I’ll try not to care so much. We can all blame my mother for raising a child that cares about a neat and tidy house. Did you hear that Mum? It’s all your fault! (Not really. I love you. Don’t hate me. Thanks for bringing me up right.)

Moving on from domestic (non) bliss, today is my last day at work for THREE WEEKS. I am immensely giddy about this. (So much so that it took me four attempts to spell immensely correctly. Ye gods). Hardly anyone is in the office today and in half an hour I will be the only one left, so work? HAH! I shall eat all my advent calendar chocolate and that is that. I may also drink quite a lot of tea.

I’m really looking forward to Christmas, but then I always do. Time off, good food, surrounded by loved ones…it’s great. I shall be going to Yorkshire next week to spend the festive season with my family. There are two turkeys in the back garden waiting to be eaten. I don’t know which one gets to be ours. Maybe I could pardon one, like they do in the States?

I might post again before the big day but if not, Merry Christmas all!

Please just love me Rory

Dean
Season one Dean is basically perfect. If you were 16 and a ridiculous tall, sweet, good looking guy started talking to you, skulking in your shrubbery to give you HAND MADE jewellery and noticed what you read and got your obscure references, holy hell you’d love him too. Right? It can’t be just me. They talk about books and bands they like. He kissed her in the market and stood up for her ‘honour’ (it’d be nice if she did that for herself, but if I were 16, I’d love it too). Actually that’s maybe the problem. I relate immensely to Rory in season one. Her quietness and love of reading and not really being noticed by boys. Except I didn’t have a Dean, and so I live vicariously through a fictional character.

Sadly season one Dean disappears as soon as Jess arrives. He forgets how to read, to like music, to have a life of his own, or really do anything other than fret over Rory and mope about her feelings for him. Who wouldn’t feel suffocated? And later still poor Dean is relegated to a hick who will never make it out of Stars Hollow. Didn’t his family come from Chicago? Why does he have to be stuck? Way harsh Amy Sherman-Palladino, way harsh.

(Sidebar: Why did Rory and Dean never have sex? I mean when they’re first together. They’re together for two years and it never really even gets mentioned (except for that misunderstanding about the dance). And then she’s with Jess for about two months and thinking about it. Why? Cos he’s a ‘bad boy’? And Dean was a ‘good boy’? I really shouldn’t analyse this so much. I love the show but I’m starting to wonder about its messages.)

Hey Mary

Tristan
He’s basically the first version of Jess, there to cause friction between Rory and Dean and perhaps be an alternative, but of course Chad Whatsisface left to go play basketball and the show needed a new, troubled, brooding soul to appeal to Rory. Tristan had touches of almost-sweetness, but he was mostly annoying. But of course it was because he liked Rory.

No lie, it took five attempts for my computer to accept a photo of Jess

Jess
Oh god I cannot be objective about this. My hatred for Jess lingers from the first time I watched the show and he broke up Rory and Dean. He is such a whiny, ungrateful douche. I get that he’s supposed to be tormented or whatever, and that all girls allegedly want a a bloke that’s a bit broken so that they can ‘fix’ him and be the only one to understand him (because that’s healthy) but GAH! I want to smack him in his face and tell him that really, in the grand scheme of things, his life isn’t all that hard. So you had to move to a small town and your parents are pretty crap. Boo frickin hoo. Get over it and appreciate the fact that people care about you and want to see you do well.

In contrast to Dean, Jess doesn’t call, he gets into trouble and then he leaves town without even saying goodbye. So they can talk about books, that’s not the only thing to build a relationship on. Hey Rory, my boyfriend hardly ever reads the same books I do, we manage to find other things to talk about it.

I actually do like later seasons Jess, when he comes back and tells Rory to get over herself and get back to Yale. He’s sorted his life out and seems generally ok.

Just what is going on with this shirt?

Logan
I have to say, I kinda liked him on my first viewing. He was smart and funny, and linked to the whole ‘cool/fun’ side of money. But on later viewings I realised I didn’t particularly like Rory when she was with him. She’s all silly and girly – that scene where she gives him her notes in the hopes of getting a date makes me cringe – and that whole weeping on the bathroom floor because he doesn’t like her, it’s really quite pathetic. And then there’s that awful thing where she’s watching Duck Soup with Marty and Logan shows up and they go out for food which Marty can’t afford. He’s humiliated and has to borrow money off Rory and she just doesn’t give a shit really. It’s obvious Marty would rather poke out his eyes than hang out with those people, and she’s just giddy Logan came by and deigned to show her attention. Rory, you are a shitty friend and Marty would have been way better for you. Except for later on when he goes all weird with his other girlfriend.

And I know she has to grow up and change, but she starts using this really annoying voice (and whoever does the wardrobe for season six should be shot. Rory’s outfits are fine enough, but they don’t fit her body shape at all) and just generally bugs me. I don’t like feeling like that about her.

So season one Dean wins, but then he goes off the rails, and Rory never really has another decent match. I like to think she ended up with someone better than all of these guys. Maybe one day we’ll get that Gilmore Girls special and see, eh?

These are the things I’m supposed to say:

Aunt, route, wash, oil, theatre, iron, salmon, caramel, fire, water, sure, data, ruin, crayon, toilet, New Orleans, pecan, both, again, probably, spitting image, Alabama, lawyer, coupon, mayonnaise, syrup, pajamas, caught

Answer these questions:
What is it called when you throw toilet paper on a house?
What is the bug that curls into a ball when you touch it?
What is the bubbly carbonated drink called?
What do you call gym shoes?
What do you say to address a group of people?
What do you call the kind of spider that has an oval-shaped body and extremely long legs?
What do you call your grandparents?
What do you call the wheeled contraption in which you carry groceries at the supermarket?
What do you call it when rain falls while the sun is shining?
What is the thing you use to change the TV channel?

Part One is the living room and bedroom.

Part Two includes exciting things like the kitchen! And the bathroom!

I know, try to contain yourselves.

I have submitted my skate name to our league to send off to the keepers of the list in the States. I’ll do a bigger post about the name thing once I know whether or not it’s been accepted. I had a hard time choosing one. Most of the ones I liked were taken, and then I think I got name fatigue. It didn’t feel important any more, so I just picked one I kind of liked.

Yesterday was the first day of the Roller Derby World Cup, in Toronto. I didn’t manage to watch any of the footage but will hopefully get to see England play Ireland and later Argentina today. The link for more info is here. London Rollergirls have players in Team England, Ireland and I believe Scotland too, so I’m kinda cheering for them all. I hope they do well. And roller derby had a nice article in the Guardian, about the world cup, and for once wasn’t all about how we just like to hit each other or a run down of how you play. I should ignore the comments since most of them are people who’ve never heard of roller derby saying it sounds shit or is an excuse for girls to wear fishnets and hit each other. I used to let this bother me but now it doesn’t so much, mainly because they have obviously never been to see a bout, don’t know any rollergirls, and are just commenting for the sake of it. If you strip away all the things they think about derby – the costumes, the names, the big hits – you’re still left with a sport (yes, it is a sport, get over it people) that encourages women of all shapes and sizes, many of whom have never been interested in team sports or exercise before (I was one of them), to get fit, meet new people, raises their self-esteem and just generally promotes awesomeness. I really don’t see how you can have a problem with that, just because some players have funny names and like to dress up a bit. Look at the positives instead, or at least go and see a bout and then comment on it.

I don’t think I’ve been posting much about books here (or about anything since the internet blackout), as I’ve been posting to Good Reads. I joined a couple of months ago and find it handy to note thoughts on what I’m reading, and what I want to read and progress and such, so things don’t end up here as much as they used to. I’ll try and change that now. You can find me here if you wish.

I am still battling with A Dance with Dragons. Or I would be if I ever picked it up again. It’s just so massive and so much of it seems to be repeating the previous book that there’s no incentive for me to go back to it. I do intend to at some point, just not now. Mostly it’s YA and ‘turn off your brain’ books, and I don’t think I have anything on my shelves that’s calling to me immensely right now. Oh, A Visit From the Goon Squad is sitting on my desk. That might be my next read.