SJA - no uncut spoilers

I don't know whether getting ready for Italy has distracted me from the Sarah Jane Adventures or vice versa, but neither one seems to be getting quite the hypersonic squeeing love that they both deserve.

Have finally seen the first episode of the SJA, and it is just as magnificent as I hoped. The over-the-top villains work better in the kiddie milieu, but there are bits - you'll know them when you get there - that show that they aren't going to pull their punches just because it's the kid's show. Nice nod to origins too.

Sarah Jane herself rocks like a geology class in a quarry (and someone, I forget where, has pointed out how really incredible it is that a character who was a cross between cliche and eyecandy in the 70s has become Doctor Mark III - The Doctor being Mark I and Jack being Mark II.) I've already enthused about how incredible I think it is that the "old lady" isn't just handing out cookies, advice, and a moral at the end but is instead driving much of the action, so we'll take that part as read. ( Slight spoilers on the state of Sarah Jane's love life w/regard to School Reunion. )

Maria, SJ-in-training, is fabulous. Luke is adorable in a fuzzy puppy way, and I like that they've managed to hit the exact blend of smarts and "social mistakes" that he would naturally have. The only thing that will disappoint me is if they go through the entire run of the show avoiding both the obvious "A" words - aspergers or autism. They probably will, but it would be an excellent in-show way of explaining his oddities... and would it hurt to have an aspergers hero? Works for Bones.

The new character is less of a stereotype than the old one (and follow my fic recs for the last few days, because I linked a couple days ago to a great Kelsey and Four fic that wrote her out in a very characteristic way.) Me, I don't mind that Kelsey's gone - she struck me as being a very one-note character and considering that all she wanted out of Maria was a tagger-on and to mooch off whatever was in the house, I can't imagine her sticking around for long anyway. The new kid has better prospects of being well-rounded. ( Just in case there's anyone out there who hasn't even read the casting spoilers. )

To steal a tagline from someone else (and now I can't remember who): In short, sonic lipstick.

Or in shorter: SQUEEE!

PS: I REALLY want this belt!.

Silly, silly me

I've picked up a story making the rounds of the feminist blogs, and finally clicked on the original article Shakespeare's Sister has hung up like a pinata.

It was highly educational.

Silly, silly me. I've got an expenses-paid trip to Italy (which I have never visited) in *checks clock* 36 hours, I've got a lovely house, rock-solid friends in person, interesting friends online, amusing and productive hobbies, and a highly active fandom that brings me great joy and inspiration that has just started airing long-awaited episodes of an eagerly-anticipated spinoff (not to mention the kickoff of the new fall TV season, always a big deal for a fangirl).

For some damned reason, I thought I was, y'know, happy.

But it is not to be. I see that now. Some Brit bint named Voak knows ever so much more about me than I do, you see. And she knows that In all my years of helping overweight people to slim, I have never met a happy fat person.

There is no such thing.

Her worldview could not at all be skewed by the fact that she considers herself a 'slimming evangelist' or that the only overweight people she talks to have already decided that they are unhappy with their weight and come to her to fix the problem.

Nor can her binary worldview grasp that some people decide to deal with their weight by not angsting about it. That can take the form of not caring, or it can take the form of making certain decisions from a non-masochistic point of view. For instance, you can tell yourself "I'm going to have to strictly measure my portions and intake because I'm a fat, fat pig!" Or maybe you could say "I'm going to fill this darling little bento box with my meals, knowing that it will handle portion control for me so prettily." Perhaps it's "get your fat lazy ass on the treadmill! You must sweat in penance!" Vs. "Hmmm... workout should be 20 minutes to half an hour. A classic episode of Doctor Who or a Big Finish adventure section runs about 25 minutes. Let me move this TV in front of the treadmill..."

Am I happy with my weight? No. Doing something about it. Am I happy with my life? Funny thing, despite the weight, I'm going to say "yes." Because of, y'know, the home and the friends and the fandom and, oh, Italy.

Fic Rec

Fic rec - The Art of Surviving Ten/Martha, R.
He’s not in love with her, she knows, at least not in the way John Smith was in love with Joan, and she’s not in love with him either, but she does love him, and she is intrigued by him, and she figures that’s enough of a good reason to fall into this potential mess.

Deleted Scene from Sound of Drums. Oh, the fun of intercutting!

For Old Time's Sake, part 1 and part 2. Donna, Martha, and Ace all together. The Doctor doesn't stand a chance!

wendymr's Jackie drabble Countdown. 100 words that will rip your heart out.