Monday, December 1, 2003

I woke up on Saturday morning with that wonderful feeling that comes from knowing that you have nothing planned for that day.

Of course, with me, I never have nothing planned. Saturday was my opportunity to write.

Up until a few months ago, I would’ve pushed myself to write all day, and been disappointed with myself if I hadn’t. Now, I had enough inner grace to give myself plenty of leeway. I realized that this would be my first opportunity in years to have a full day to devote to writing, and that I shouldn’t expect myself to leap into it with all the gusto of an over-sugared eight-year-old.

After waking, I went on a three-mile run around the neighborhood. The air was cold, and the wind rushing down the street knifed through my running suit, but it was invigorating, and I enjoyed it. Even the third mile was good, despite a mild stomach upset.

After a hot shower, I sat down at my desk, fired up Navi, and began work on my writing challenge for the week: an extended monologue. It ended up as a thousand-word monologue about the history of anime. I’m rather proud of it.

I tried my hand at some of my other writing projects—Seeing Things Invisible and the ghost story—but nothing came. I just wasn’t ready to write them yet.

Ah well. Instead, I began my Christmas baking. By the end of the weekend, I’d baked a loaf of pumpkin bread, reverse chocolate chip cookies (white chocolate chips in chocolate dough), gingersnaps, and peanut blossoms (peanut butter cookies with a Hershey’s kiss on top). They all turned out well, except for the gingersnaps which were way too dry.

I woke up on Sunday with an upset stomach, so I skipped church but entertained my parents with lunch. I wanted to show them Memories, but they had to get home, promising that we’d watch it another time.

Memories is possibly my favorite Jackie Chan film. It’s set in the roaring 20’s, complete with gangsters and tommy guns. It features some of the best fighting scenes I’ve ever seen Jackie perform. It’s also the most lush of Jackie’s films; it uses a lot of huge steadycam and crane shots. Sure, it’s eye candy; but it’s beautiful eye candy. And all too rare in kung fu films.

I ended the weekend watching a lot of anime:

• The last twelve episodes of Dai-Guard, which is partly an anime spoof and partly just plain fabulous anime. As Dual! Parallel Trouble Adventure is a parody of Neon Genesis Evangelion and its ilk, Dai-Guard is a parody of the “team of youngsters pilot a giant robot” genre. And not only is it hilarious, it’s a strong story with incredibly strong characters and a jaw-dropping finale.
• Another episode of the original Mobile Suit Gundam. Most anime only tries to be this good.
• Re-watched Animation Runner Kuromi, which is just as funny as it was the first time I saw it.
• Re-watched a few episodes of Kodomo no Omocha, which is even funnier than it was the first time I saw it.