dixon_green

Well, I blew it again.  I did start on the animation list a couple of weeks ago, but there were 27 (!) eligible films, and that is a LOT to research, even if just superficially.

I did start, though.  I'd already selected my guesses for nomination: Zootopia, The Little Prince, Moana, Finding Dory, and Kubo and the Two Strings.  Here are the films nominated this morning:

• Kubo and the Two Strings


• Moana


• My Life as a Zucchini


• The Red Turtle


• Zootopia

Three out of five.  Little surprised Pixar's Finding Dory was not included, because, Pixar.  For as good as it was, this was not one of Pixar's best efforts.  The story thundered down its path like a train on rails because it had to, not because it needed to.  Very little organic growth, not nearly the tight degree of writing I expect from Pixar.  Still, there was that absolutely lovely moment when Dory is completely alone in the ocean, completely panicked, and she remembers her parents' advice and grounds herself, calms herself, and finds her way.  Also somewhat surprised The Little Prince didn't pick up a nom.  Haven't seen it, but it has a pedigreed literary component, not insignificant box office, and is just the sort of arty film that attracts nominations.

I haven't seen My Life as a Zuchinni, but I was picking up positive buzz about it during my initial research run.  It might have taken the Little Prince's spot for the same arty reasons.  But I don't think it will win.   I know NOTHING about the Red Turtle.

I skipped Kubo and the Two Strings.  I really did not need to see another coming of age magical hero quest with a boy-child protagonist with a snotty attitude.  It looks pretty as all get out, and Laika is a bit of a outsider darling, but I just could not make myself care.  If I want magical hero quest coming of age, I've got Steven Universe to fill that void.

I did see Moana and I did see Zootopia.  Ans this is where it gets complicated.  I think Moana is going to win the Oscar.  It is a gorgeous film with fabulous music and songs.  It's recent and it is easy movie to vote for.  The story was well done, but there was something about Moana herself that bugged me.  If this film had been a rom-com, she would have been the perfect Manic Pixie Dream Girl.  Honestly, her only flaws were a bit of cute clumsiness and a touch of wanderlust.  Both parents, who loved her completly, a role she was being groomed for and was well suited to, she lives in an honest-to-god paradise!   Ahem.   I could go on and on about some of the structural issues I had with the story.  And why didn't she get her a tattoo at the end of her adventure, too?  But. Zootopia was a better story with better characters.  Still had flaws, but overall, it was better.  And, it has picked up the Golden Globe for best animated film.

On the downside, both of these are Disney flicks, and that could split the vote, which could let Kubo through for the win.

Moana also picked up a best song nomination for How Far I'll Go.  It's a good song, but ultimately it is extremely conventional.  "Shiny" is better.  It's a villian song, and on the surface is very bright and poppy.  But the way it shifts between major and minor, and the underlying rhythms are deeply unbalanced, oh, musically, it is marvelous.

Well, the Golden Globes were last night, and the Oscar nominations are revealed on Thursday. If I'm going to do this annual review of animated movies, I best get it done.

2014 was a mixed bag. There were some movies I was really looking forward to. There were other films that came as delightful surprises. There were others I had hope for, but they only met expectations of mediocrity.  With that in mind, and SPOILERS ahead, let me pass judgement:

( In alphabetical order... )

So, there were some clear standouts this year: How to Train Your Dragon 2, Big Hero 6, The Lego Movie, and The Book of Life. All four of these grabbed Golden Globe nominations, and I see so reason why they shouldn't also pick up Oscar nomination. The fifth spot might go to Boxtrolls (it did pick up a Golden Globe nomination), but one of the non-US films might snag a nomination: Cheatin' or The Tale of Princess Kaguya. Maybe Song of the Sea if it is eligible for 2014. But really, the real competition is between How to Train Your Dragon 2 and Big Hero 6.

Early early early Friday morning, two lines of thunderstorms rolled though the Metro.  Both of them woke me up, but as I am getting to be a lighter and fussier sleeper these days, that is hardly a surprise.  The storms were noisy, and I really wasn't surprised that one of the storms knocked out the power.  Don't know which one, and I really didn't care.  I just got myself off to work, and I figured Xcel Energy would take care of things, and I would have power back no later than Saturday.

Then the storms blew through Friday evening.

( Storm consequences  )

Let's see how I did:

Brave (duh!)
Wreck-it Ralph (yay!)
Frankenweenie (on my alternate list, but not a surprise)
ParaNormal (yup)
Pirates!  Band of Misfits (...the hell?)

Two computer animated, three stop motion.  None were nominated for Best Picture, so no clear winner to be divined from that.  Three from Disney productions, one overseas, and an indie studio in the Pacific Northwest;  Dreamworks was shut out this year, much like Disney was last year.  Still, I'm rather flummoxed that Pirates! got a nomination, as it was NOT a particularly good movie.  Then again, my tastes run far away from slapstick and sit-com awkwardness these days.  I like me my character driven action adventure stories.

So, again, Brave is the PIXAR  easy choice.  Frankenweenie might get it because the Academy at large wants to give Tim Burton an Oscar.  I still want to see Wreck-it Ralph win it.

Velvet likes to stick her head into containers - bags, baskets, boxes, whatever.  Why?  She's a cat.

Last night I was burrowed under the blankets and reading bed, and I heard her exploring in the other room.  Normal bedtime stuff.  Then, an explosion of paper rattling, and 15 pounds of flying frantic fur flailing comes thundering across my bed (oh, I'm so glad I had just put on the thick winter blankets).  I barely have time to flinch before the sounds flee to the basement, thrash around for a bit, then stop.

Apparently, Velvet had stuck her head into a gift bag, through the handle, a handle small enough to make it one way only for little kitty heads. The bag had contained stringed instrument stuff from Claire Givens.  I found cello strings and bits of bag scattered like breadcrumbs along the path Velvet took when trying to escape the evil gift bag that was chasing her with such noise.  She didn't come when I called for her, or when I shook her treats container.  I eventually found her in a far corner of the basement, trying to be as small a meatloaf as she could manage.  The remains of the offending bag were in tatters on the other side of the basement.

Velvet has never liked being carried, and only tolerates being picked up.  I'm not about to do either to her in her freaked out state.  So I rub her head and scritch her ears and make silly calming noises.  When I try longer strokes down her spine, I get the politest little hiss I've ever gotten:  "thank you for your concern, but I'm really quite upset at the moment, so could you please not do that."   I went back to bed.

I woke up at five, and she wasn't on the bed.  This is unusual, so I got up to check on her.  She had left the basement, and was on the couch.   I wasn't going to get much sleep before the alarm went off one way or the other, and Velvet LOVES to sleep on top of me on the sofa.  She hopped up onto the back of the sofa, let me get settled, then sprawled herself over me - she can reach hip to toes with only the tiniest bit of stretch.  I was glad I was able to do something comforting and special for her after her (self-inflicted) epic scare.

This morning, on my way to the bus, I was approached by an unleashed dog.  Some sort of bulldog mix, probably about 50 pounds.  Collar, no tags.

This was not going to be a passing experience.  This dog made a beeline for me once she spotted me.  Me, I stopped in my tracks and became very non-threatening, but not passive.  She came up, gave me a good sniff, and then

"You're PEOPLE!  I LOVE YOU!"

She wanted pettings.  She wanted ear scritches.  She wanted hugs and laps and love, and to give me kisses. When she got too excited, I told her to sit, and she did.  Well fed (but not fat), well loved, and well trained.  But no collar.

I still needed to get to the bus stop.  After giving her some hugs and pettings and ear scritches, I continued on my way.  She response was "Walkies!" and she followed me for a couple of blocks.  We must have passed her home, 'cause she headed to a front door, and I lost site of her.

It was a nice way to start the morning.  I just wish I could have truly gotten her home.

Memory is a tricky and stubbon thing.  I've had many compliments about my lovely new dress this year from crafters who see me every year.  This is the same dress I've been wearing for six years, and will be demoting to rain dress for next year (to be worn only on rainy days).

I'm in much better shape this Monday than I was last week.  My fingertips are still tender, but the callouses are thickening.  My hips don't hurt, and my feet aren't quite as swollen.

I did reach a decision about new boots.  What with the plantar fascitis and the neuroma, I need footware that fits and can take insoles.  The Sons of Sandlar boots are great for accepting the insoles, so I'm not getting the plantar fascitis flares.  But last week, and on Saturday, my feet hurt at the end of the day, so much so that I could not bear the thought of wearing them on Sunday if I had a choice.  I hauled out the Catskills, which I had retired yast year because the don't take orthotic insoles.  By the end of the day, I could feel the plantar fascitis starting to grumble, but my feet didn't hurt.  So, I will suck up the cost of new Catskills, and I will get fitted for a new pair, and I will make sure to bring the insoles I used daily.  Tips better be good this year!

And Fest starts tomorrow.  Am I ready?  Kinda sorta maybe.

I got the new sleeves completely done, but I'm still beading the forepanel.  I do have all the dress bits and pieces cleaned, assembled, and ready to go.  The toy violin has fresh batteries, and I have over 200 tokens in the toy chest. The boots have new insoles, ones made for helping with plantar fascitis (although they don't really help with the neuroma).  Fresh sunscreen and makeup are ready to go, and I have plan for food.

But musically, not nearly so much.  I haven't practiced in almost a week, and I have sheet music scattered all over the place as I decide and assemble my "fake book".  I do have fresh strings on the instrument, and spares tucked away.  D is sound engineering a CD for me, but I have maybe three tunes ready to go.  Hearing the recordings was a very humbling experience.  Still, we might have something ready to go by Labor Day, or the end of Fest.

Now, I need to go to bed, as tomorrow morning is going to come way to early.

My work reward trip to California ended up corresponding to a visit from Mom.  She came out for her 50 year college reunion, and took advantage of it to see a lot of her friends who still live in the area.  Since I didn't need my car, I let her use it to get around Minnesota.

My family never buys new cars.  Once we do get a car, we keep it until it can no longer be driven or should be driven.  My car is a '98 Saturn SL.  I bought it in 2001.  I crossed 140,000 miles two weeks ago.  It is slowly rusting out around me.  The suspension is shot.  I'm not entirely sure about the exhaust system.  The transmission has always been rough going into reverse.   The transmission overheats in stop and go traffic and warm weather, and when it does, it won't get out of first gear until it cools down and the computer resets.  The engine is not powerful with lackluster acceleration, and cabin noise has gotten rather loud.  But, it still starts, and it get about 30 MPG most of the time, annual taxes as as low as state charges, and I own it outright.

When Mom returned the car to me, she told me it was time and past time to get a newer vehicle.

So, I started my research.  I know I want a newer car (2010, 2009 at the oldest).  I want a hatchback, not a sedan or a wagon.  And, I have to keep it within a specific cost range (I know what I want to afford, I know what I can afford, and I know what I can make work if I have to).  There area lot of choices, but the Honda Fit, Nissan Versa HB, Hyundai Touring, VW Golf, Mazda 3, Pontiac Vibe kept popping up.   The Vibe went to bottom of my list because it is a discontinued line.  The VW and the Mazda are at the high end of my price range for the age range I'm looking at.  And, I just needed to cut the list down to a manageable amount for test drives.

Last week was WW.  I chose not to go.  There were a lot of reasons, but the fact that my car really is getting to the end of it life played part of it.  I took some of that non-WW time to test drive vehicles.

The Fit has enormous amounts of stowage capacity, and the site lines are great.  MPG is fantastic, better than my Saturn. It's quite comfortable, I sit much higher to the road, and the drive is fine, but I can already tell that the engine just doesn't have a lot of power - it is the smallest and least powerful of the lot per the specs, and I was driving the Sport trim.  It also feels...small.  Just not that much car around me.   Also, the demand for Fit's is high enough that getting it new is almost the same cost as a used  vehicle.

The Elantra Touring is bigger and more powerful, but the MPG is also less than my Saturn.  It wasn't as comfortable the Fit (although still quite comfortable), but I like the feel of more car around me.

Today I drove the Nissan Versa, a 2011 SL with CVT.  It is bigger than the Fit, but smaller than the Touring.  It doesn't have the total stowage space of the Fit, but, I can get my cello across the back seat, which I can't in the Fit.  It still has loads of stowage space, including some "high" storage in the back seat.  I liked driving it - responsive, and more power than the Fit.  D also came along, mostly to check out the passenger spaces (he's a tall boy with long legs).  It passed every configuration.  The price point is exactly where I want it to be.

At this time,the Versa HB is the car I want.  In all likelihood, I will buy one next weekend.  I will have to finance it, but I should be able to pay TTL in cash and a nice little bit of a down payment (thanks to a bit of savings and a generous birthday gift from my parents).  I just check my credit rating and it is beautiful, so I should be able to get a really good rate. I have no idea what my Saturn might get as a trade in, but it's not going to be much.

I'd really rather not deal with this now, but I really do need to replace my car.  And I'd rather deal with it now than during the run at Festival (contract arrived last week!).

The fridge was not cool enough again yesterday.  This time I put a thermometer is, and yes, it is running about ten degrees warmer than it should.  The frost is also building back up.

This time I pulled out the manual, and I searched on line.  The problem has to be either the defrost timer (not advancing), or the defrost element (failure).  I'll run the diagnostic test tonight, after class.  There is enough information available on-line that this might be a repair I could do myself.  I'm not sure I want to, though.  Sears will charge $75 to come out, then parts and labor.  Not sure if Center Point would come out for this (not that my fridge is covered by Center Point).

It's a repairable problem.  In the meantime I bought 70 pounds of ice and loaded it into the fridge.  I have an actual ice box!