I went to my regular doctor today. This appointment was made last winter, a follow-up to check on my blood pressure. Good, good news: my blood pressure was 117/75. I was astounded, though delighted. When I think it's up, it's down. When I think it's down, it isn't. What's with that?

The doctor told me I was in good health (and reassured me on a matter that I'd been worrying about). She told me to lose ten pounds - me, I'm going for twenty!

As I left her office, she stared at my limp. "You've a way to go," she said sympathetically. "It's a long haul."

Yeah. I took the wrong bus to get to her office: I thought the #2 was going along O'Connor, like the #7 does, to bypass the construction on Bank St. Not at all. It's using Lyon St. So I had to walk from Somerset and Lyon to MacLaren and O'Connor... which would be a piece of cake if I had two good feet. As it was: ouch. I was exhausted.

But maaseru turned up in the waiting room, and we had lunch together in the cafeteria there, which was wonderful. I had a hot chicken sandwich and fries. No, not good-diet food, but delicious.

Surprisingly, I ran into Tom (whom I work with) at the doctor's building. He offered to drive me back to work. But I wasn't going back - I took the rest of the afternoon off, and maaseru and I went shopping. Motor Medic, Cotton Ginny, Loblaw's, Lee Valley.... and a necessary cold drink at McDonald's.

I made gazpacho for supper. What joy to be using the kitchen again.

Coming back from physiotherapy today, my Para Transpo driver had an 'English is not my native language' accent and a colourful way of talking. He was telling me about an accident on the Queensway: "He must be dead, the driver. The car is like Pepsi." He had opinions on everything, and a philosophical bent. He pointed out the rainbow-stripe design on a car in front of us. "That is not a normal flag. That is the gay emblem."

"I think it's great," I said. And I did - the rainbow design looks good on a shiny black car.

My physiotherapist, Robyn, said the Foot is doing very well but that my balance is terrible, partly due to flat feet. She had questions about the effects of scleroderma on my left foot; I really wasn't sure what to say about the extent of the damage. The other Foot doesn't feel as if it's doing well - sore, limping at only a fraction of my former speed. But I ran into Hildegarde on the street at lunchtime and she said I was walking very well. I suppose it depends on your perspective; she probably expected me to still be on crutches.

So Robyn gave me some horrendous balance and foot-strengthening exercises, and another appointment for next week.

An odd day.

I lost my job today, though it'll be a year before my position is eradicated. They are 'restructuring'. Not just me; all the full-time theatre staff.

Not exactly a surprise.

Now I have to figure out what to do. Job-hunting has never been my favourite thing.

Seems to me that every time I turn on the television or the radio I'm getting yet more discussion and presentation of the Omar Khadr video and discussion concerning it. And it all boils down to the same thing: a Canadian's rights are being violated and our government is afraid to object. And this has been going on for eight years.

It's so depressing.

We were all wondering who was writing the excellent Captain's Blog for BBC America, with all its delightful Jack/Ianto slashiness. Turns out it's James Moran, which is good news, especially since he's also working on Torchwood series 3. He wrote 'Sleeper' in series 2.

A few quick comments on The Second Coming now, because I had no time to comment yesterday.

The reasons this is worth seeing: it's by Russell T. Davies who is a good writer, an effective-but-sloppy writer, who manages to be gripping and to raise emotion even when he's getting things wrong. With this particular show, a two-part miniseries, he presents his views on religion: and though the theme is though-provoking and worthwhile, it comes across as essentially shallow. Which is a pity, because in many ways I think he's right. But a good theme poorly presented isn't a good theme.

The best things about the movie: Christopher Eccleston and Lesley Sharp in the lead roles. Both gave strong, complex, and riverting performances.

The problems? All in the script, in the writing. Not so much ideological as probems with the portrayal of the ideas being presented. If you're going to take on a subject as broad as the spiritual future of mankind and as deep as religion, you have to make it convincing, either emotionally or intellectually or, preferably, both. Though I have every disposition to accept the humanistic, atheistic viewpoint that Russell T. Davies presents, I found that he was failing to make me believe things I already believed. Which is not to say I'm an atheist; I'm a pantheist with humanistic leanings. Which puts me in his camp, more or less.

( For example... )

Basically, I think Russell T. Davies has handled the subject of religion and faith better, more consistently, and more clearly, in Doctor Who and Torchwood.

Title: Endless Journey
Author: fajrdrako
Fandom: Torchwood
Characters: Jack/Doctor
Challenge: tw100: challenge: journey's end
Rating: G
Disclaimer: Not mine, no claims, all property of the BBC.
Notes: Cross-posted to my LJ and to tw100.

( Endless Journey )

Good day, thanks to my friends.

First, breakfast with maaseru at Tim Horton's. Next, went to Mandarin Ogilvie for dim sum with Vince, Donna, Edward (Vince's father), Lionel, Beulah, Sheila, and auriaephiala. Delicious. They even had congee this time - but no squid.

Then back to my place, where I talked with auriaephiala for a while, and then commodorified joined us and we watched The Second Coming, which stars Christopher Eccleston and was written by Russell T. Davies. Just about every line or scene made me think of his writing and the idea he presents in Doctor Who, but I think Doctor Who is very much better. We each had many strong reactions to the movie; its great strengths were the acting by Christopher Eccleston and Lesley Sharp; I thought it had brilliant moments but was seriously flawed in that questions were raised that were much stronger than the answers presented, and the results were shallow. I thought the movie lost track of itself when the point of view shifted from being that of Steven to being that of Judith. I am predisposed to like a movie that takes a humanist stance, but this failed in odd ways.

The demons were terrific, though.

Afterwards maaseru came by and we watched How do you solve a problem like Maria?, with John Barrowman. Janna, whom I usually like, failed to impress me this time, while I thought Jayme and Donna made a strong showing. I walked to the corner with commodorified and back, then voted for the Marias I most liked.

I'm tired, and currently fearful about various things: having the company of friends around did a lot to alleviate that.

A disappointment this evening: I went with maaseru to hear David Sedaris read at Collected Works. He was starting at 7 p.m., but even before 5:30 there was a line-up that went round the block. Neither she nor I could stand in line, so we went for supper instead.

At home, I did yoga and watched Doctor Who 'Drôle de mort', which is 'The Empty Child' in French. Enjoyed it very much.

This made me laugh in delight. Oooh, that TARDIS.

Having little self control, I started playing with Wordle when I got up this morning. I put in Torchwood words, inspired by the link kimsrants sent me to someone who did a Doctor Who design. My results were this:



I like the way it put "Jack" and "Ianto" together.

First I got to work early, which was good, but made for a long day. The Para Transpo driver who took me home was very chatty; we were talking about pets, and I showed her my budgies when we got to my place. She's a dog-lover, as I am, and has a hobby farm. Cool.

Then commodorified came over and we went for a walk. Yes, an honest to goodness walk. Sort of. She was very helpful in advising me about why my hips were hurting and how to stop staring at my feet as I walked, and how to keep my body from stiffening up. I ended with walking barefoot in the grass by the duck pond.

Afterwards, maaseru and I went out for ice cream.

Then I phoned a friend of mine who hadn't spoken to me since November. At first she was a little stiff, but we were united in worry over our friend Harry (currently in the hospital, and in pain) and we ended up talking for a long time. It made me feel better about things: best case scenario.

If you ever doubted the corruptive influence of commodorified: she just showed me this site and I can just see I'll spend all sorts of time playing with it.

"Any word lover," she said. Yup. I'm doomed.

( Read more... )

It's summer, so our Summer Drama Workshops are going on.

I always love overhearing the kids' conversations when I go by. This morning they were sitting in the Green Room discussing religion - which ones, I don't know. Mid-teens, these people. One boy was saying, "I wouldn't call it a cult, exactly. It's more of a pyramid scheme."

I love it.

Yesterday I was unable to get Para Transpo to take me to work - I phoned too late. To my joy and delight, maaseru stepped into the breach and drove me to work. We got coffee at Tim Horton's en route. That was great.

Then I had to go home by (shudder) a real bus. I was nervous, especially about getting on and off the bus, but that turned out to be easy. What wasn't easy was standing or trying to walk when the bus was moving. My foot didn't have the flexibility to compensate for the shifting and jerky motions. Ouch!

Then I had to walk 500m from the bus stop to the apartment - I know how far it is now, thanks to Jack the Geonavigator in maaseru's car. It was slow, and tiring, and vaguely annoying, but it was all right. I kept trying to pick up my speed of walking and my speed just won't pick up. It is what it is.

So this morning, Para Transpo picked me up. They were prompt, traffic was light, and I got to work 45 minutes early. Hence time to post on LJ. I'm about to make a cup of tea. This is rather pleasant.

How did I ever miss the death of Michael Turner? Yes, my foot was distracting me in June and I wasn't paying much attention to news in the world of comics, but...

But. My goodness. What terrible sad news that is.

I loved the way he drew Supergirl and Batman.

It's the middle of the night and I can't sleep. I hate this. I've tried chanting mantras and hot milk and fanfic.

Hmmph.

This evening I was at a sushi restaurant with Marcelle, Sushi Kan on Baseline Road, and the people at the table next to us were talking about the Doctor Who episode 'Journey's End'. It sounds so very like the conversations here on my LJ! I was amused. ( Cut for spoilers: ) They continued by saying that Torchwood was a second-rate knock-off of Doctor Who and they didn't bother watching it.

It amused me mightily that at two different tables in one Ottawa restaurant people were discussing an episode of a TV show that won't be aired in this country until December - or later.

Their conversation reminded me of ( another spoiler I'd read... )

So I was telling maaseru about what Noel Clarke had said, and the woman at the next table gave us a grin and said, "Did we derail your conversation?"

"No problem," I said, "I'm always happy to talk about Doctor Who." maaseru gave me a tolerant look.

Oh, and a bit of good news - the voice in her GPS system is named Jack.

Today's 'quote of the day' list had two quotes I knew well, and loved, but I never knew who said them:

Work like you don't need the money. Love like you've never been hurt. Dance like nobody's watching.

and

Sometimes I sits and thinks, and sometimes I just sits.

Turns out both are from Leroy "Satchel" Paige, 1906 - 1982, an American baseball player.