Saturday -- Looking Back

I didn't do any work on my paper yesterday, but I did get some good work done on my house. More housework to do today, and I woke up knowing how I wanted to approach the next part of my paper, so I'm primed again for digging in.

I went to see Million Dollar Baby last night. Eastwood, Freeman and Swank were all fabulous, as one might expect -- but there's good reason it's not being touted as the "feel good movie of the year." It's well worth seeing, but I could have used something a bit more upbeat last night.

On Friday morning I sent a Paypal payment for Invitation Under the Moon, and it arrived Saturday afternoon. I was so impressed! The giclee itself is beautiful, a quality piece of work: on heavy board, with nice texturing, bright colors. . . . Gorgeous! Now all I have to do is wait for my tax refund to be deposited so I can get it framed. Meanwhile, it's wrapped up again in its brown paper betwteen several stiff boards.

Ever since I moved into this house, the "picture" over my fireplace has been a large framed collage I made back when I was pregnant with my daughter that expressed my vision of what I wanted to become. I may replace it with Invitation. . . And I'm finally feeling that I am starting to truly become the woman projected in the collage. . .

Iconage - Wild Swans

I've swiped up a few new icons recently, and particularly love this one. It's based on one of my favorite fairy tales, The Wild Swans.

Every so often I try to analyze why this one has touched me so deeply since I was a young child, but I've never quite figured it out. The best reason that I can come up with is that it so elegantly -- and unexpectedly -- turns on its head the usual conventions of who rescues whom. Elise is the savior, even though she endures terrible hardship. And while the storyteller makes it clear that what she's doing isn't easy or pleasant, there's an awareness that her task of gathering nettles and weaving them into shirts is one she's freely chosen. She's not one of those fairy tale 'heroines' (*cough* *cough*) who "weeps bitterly" because of her situation. She's not a martyr. The prince who comes by is a nice guy, but his attempt to rescue her and foist a Happily Ever After onto her isn't welcome, and almost results in her death and the ruin of all her work.

I guess I've always liked Elise's courageous, solitary commitment to her work. She won't speak even when her own life is threatened. She chooses, again and again, and triumphs in the end because of her own courage.

I like Tam Lin for similar reasons. . . *waves at tamnonlinear*

(Yes, I own Starhawk's book that uses The Wild Swans as a foundation for magical training, but I've never been able to get into it.)

I don't know the name of the artist who created the original image, but the icon is by "royal_highness"

"Wicked" Tour Rehearsal Photos

For ladyvivien and anyone else who loves Wicked and/or is fascinated with the workings of theater: Photos of the touring cast of Wicked in rehearsal.


Edited:I need a Wicked icon.

My photo program won't let me manipulate this.
Is there anyone willing to print "Defying Gravity!" across the bottom of this for me?