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icepixieSo over the past few days, I've watched parts three and four of the Key to Time story, "The Stones of Blood" and "The Androids of Tara."
Oh, such FUN! New Who is perhaps better at sticking themes and symbols and emotional oomph into an episode, but it can't beat the old stuff for sheer glee. Particularly these old ones. And there are a surprising amount of character moments, for all that Old Who is generally criticized for not having much of that kind of thing--I was particularly impressed with Lamia in "Tara," and of course Romana gets lovely moments all the time: the shoes and the very put-out, "Yeah, I got pushed off a cliff and I'm hanging by my fingernails--little help here?" attitude when she, uh, gets pushed off a cliff in "Stones"; the very smug way in which she lands the TARDIS perfectly at the beginning of "Tara," etc.
"Stones" has fantastic trappings with the Celtic mythology, the henge, the dotty old lady professor, etc. And the justice machines! Hah! I loved those little blinking lights. So fun.
And of course "Tara" was just a big ol' ball of silliness, and everyone knew it. HOW funny was K-9's "Master? Maaaster?" closing the episode when he was stuck in the boat? And Mary Tamm gets some fantastic disdainful expressions in when she's captured. Hee. I love how they're all sort of like, "Fourth segment of the Key? Eh, whatever. Logical reason for this society to have electric cattle prods mated with swords, crossbows that shoot laser bolts, and freaking androids, yet apparently still exist in the Middle Ages in every other way? Who cares!" Although at the same time, what we saw of their society was actually really intriguing: Only "peasants" have the knowledge to control the androids, and yet they're an underclass. Hmmm. I smell a revolution, myself...
I've never even heard of The Prisoner of Zenda, but I think I might need to read the book.
If I weren't already hatching a plan to dress up as Charley to![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
elflore's Eighth Doctor and go to a con sometime, somewhere, I'd make myself a copy of that lovely purple outfit Romana wears in this episode and wear it to a con. (I really, really want that hat. Really, really, really. I don't think I can articulate how much I want that hat, actually.)
Also, I thought I recognized the location they were shooting at--particularly the moat, and bridges over it. It was confirmed in the commentary that it was Leeds Castle, and I HAVE TOTALLY BEEN THERE. AWESOME. And heh, commentary. Funny. Lord, I could listen to Mary Tamm read the phone book for hours. She has such a gorgeous voice. Has she been in any of the Big Finish audios, I wonder?
I'm a bit sad that I only have two more Romana I stories left. :( I love Lalla Ward in the role as well, but Romana's first incarnation is just so cool. Smart and prickly and snarky and with a bit of naivete for spice. (Not to mention unusually good fashion sense for the 1970s.) Great character.
*
In random news, I found a pair of jeans that fit with a minimum of looking around. Not only do they fit at the top, but they are ALSO in "short" length, which I don't think I've seen for at least three years. Hooray! I don't have to take this pair up by the nearly two inches that "average" length requires!
(Yeah, so I'm about an eighth of an inch under 5'5". I am also not unnaturally sticklike and able to fit in, like, a size 2 or whatever would usually have the inseam of under 30" that I need. This means that the "petite" sizes some stores do, for people 5'4" and under, are just a bit too short, both in the legs and the waist, but EVERYTHING ELSE is too long. I love "short" lengths of things in my size.
And yes, I realize the tall people reading this are rolling their eyes and saying, "At least you have the option of altering them! We have to live with pants that are too short!" Yeah, well, anything that helps me continue to be lazy is nothing but good. ;))
*
Question: Am I a very strange person for eating cinnamon raisin bagels with butter and a generous helping of brown sugar sprinkled on top? My mother says that no bagel is meant to be sweet, while I think that any bread product which has a spice like cinnamon and little fruit bits in it damn well better be sweet, or what's the point, really?
Oh, such FUN! New Who is perhaps better at sticking themes and symbols and emotional oomph into an episode, but it can't beat the old stuff for sheer glee. Particularly these old ones. And there are a surprising amount of character moments, for all that Old Who is generally criticized for not having much of that kind of thing--I was particularly impressed with Lamia in "Tara," and of course Romana gets lovely moments all the time: the shoes and the very put-out, "Yeah, I got pushed off a cliff and I'm hanging by my fingernails--little help here?" attitude when she, uh, gets pushed off a cliff in "Stones"; the very smug way in which she lands the TARDIS perfectly at the beginning of "Tara," etc.
"Stones" has fantastic trappings with the Celtic mythology, the henge, the dotty old lady professor, etc. And the justice machines! Hah! I loved those little blinking lights. So fun.
And of course "Tara" was just a big ol' ball of silliness, and everyone knew it. HOW funny was K-9's "Master? Maaaster?" closing the episode when he was stuck in the boat? And Mary Tamm gets some fantastic disdainful expressions in when she's captured. Hee. I love how they're all sort of like, "Fourth segment of the Key? Eh, whatever. Logical reason for this society to have electric cattle prods mated with swords, crossbows that shoot laser bolts, and freaking androids, yet apparently still exist in the Middle Ages in every other way? Who cares!" Although at the same time, what we saw of their society was actually really intriguing: Only "peasants" have the knowledge to control the androids, and yet they're an underclass. Hmmm. I smell a revolution, myself...
I've never even heard of The Prisoner of Zenda, but I think I might need to read the book.
If I weren't already hatching a plan to dress up as Charley to
elflore's Eighth Doctor and go to a con sometime, somewhere, I'd make myself a copy of that lovely purple outfit Romana wears in this episode and wear it to a con. (I really, really want that hat. Really, really, really. I don't think I can articulate how much I want that hat, actually.)Also, I thought I recognized the location they were shooting at--particularly the moat, and bridges over it. It was confirmed in the commentary that it was Leeds Castle, and I HAVE TOTALLY BEEN THERE. AWESOME. And heh, commentary. Funny. Lord, I could listen to Mary Tamm read the phone book for hours. She has such a gorgeous voice. Has she been in any of the Big Finish audios, I wonder?
I'm a bit sad that I only have two more Romana I stories left. :( I love Lalla Ward in the role as well, but Romana's first incarnation is just so cool. Smart and prickly and snarky and with a bit of naivete for spice. (Not to mention unusually good fashion sense for the 1970s.) Great character.
*
In random news, I found a pair of jeans that fit with a minimum of looking around. Not only do they fit at the top, but they are ALSO in "short" length, which I don't think I've seen for at least three years. Hooray! I don't have to take this pair up by the nearly two inches that "average" length requires!
(Yeah, so I'm about an eighth of an inch under 5'5". I am also not unnaturally sticklike and able to fit in, like, a size 2 or whatever would usually have the inseam of under 30" that I need. This means that the "petite" sizes some stores do, for people 5'4" and under, are just a bit too short, both in the legs and the waist, but EVERYTHING ELSE is too long. I love "short" lengths of things in my size.
And yes, I realize the tall people reading this are rolling their eyes and saying, "At least you have the option of altering them! We have to live with pants that are too short!" Yeah, well, anything that helps me continue to be lazy is nothing but good. ;))
*
Question: Am I a very strange person for eating cinnamon raisin bagels with butter and a generous helping of brown sugar sprinkled on top? My mother says that no bagel is meant to be sweet, while I think that any bread product which has a spice like cinnamon and little fruit bits in it damn well better be sweet, or what's the point, really?
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no subject
Date: 2006-07-23 07:14 am (UTC)NO. THAT IS THE BEST THING EVER. BUTTER AND BROWN SUGAR MAKE THE WORLD GO ROUND.
no subject
Date: 2006-07-23 04:41 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-07-23 01:44 pm (UTC)Am I a very strange person for eating cinnamon raisin bagels with butter and a generous helping of brown sugar sprinkled on top?
Nope. I have mine with cinnamon and sugar sprinkled on mine. A cinnamon raisin bagel isn't a real bagel anyway. You're not gonna eat it with lox, so I say go for it!
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Date: 2006-07-23 04:44 pm (UTC)Kohl's. Levi's 550 relaxed-fit boot cut. SHORT, OH YES.
YAY PANTS!
*takes that the British way* *laughs*
You're not gonna eat it with lox
I am not eating anything ever with lox. Eek.
Sugary bagel eaters unite!
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Date: 2006-07-23 03:09 pm (UTC)I was so disappointed when Romana regenerated, because like you, I thought she was just the coolest thing ever. I love how she could match the Doctor pretty much evenly (the TARDIS landing scene you mentioned is hiding in my mood theme, waiting to come out) and she was pretty on top of it all, which was just an added bonus (and I wanted that white dress in the WORST way, even though I'd look like shit in it and might not want it so much now that I'm no longer in high school). I mean...talk about your perfect female role model!
So, yeah, I'm with you on Romana I. Have you ever, btw, seen The Story of English? The one Robert MacNeil did about 20 years ago? The first episode goes back to Anglo-Saxon and shows folks at the BBC learning how to pronounce some for a radio production (or something along that line--it's been 20 years, so I could have the details wrong!). I was sitting in English class my senior year in high school trying to contain myself when Mary Tamm was one of the folks shown at the BBC. /random trivia
If you and elflore ever dress up, ya gotta post a picture. And dernit, it's your bagel, don't let other people tell you how to eat it! ;)
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Date: 2006-07-23 06:47 pm (UTC)I like that they weren't afraid to have a character who was a complete snob, and yet somehow was still sympathetic. She reminds me of Hermione from HP, who I identify with so, so much.
I want practically all of Romana's clothes. I particularly like the red outfit in my icon.
I'd heard of The Story of English, but haven't ever seen it. I think I definitely need to check it out, though--I took a class on Anglo-Saxon translation first semester last year, so it's doubly entertaining for me!
If you and elflore ever dress up, ya gotta post a picture.
Oh, definitely. :) I've been looking up patterns for 1930s dresses online, and...most of them are bias cut, and I can't remember if that's supposed to be exquisitely hard or relatively easy to do. I have shoes that work for it, though!
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Date: 2006-07-23 07:00 pm (UTC)I don't think The Story of English is available on DVD, alas--I remember borrowing it from my English teacher in HS (or shortly thereafter) because I loved it so much, but I think that was the copy someone recorded from the original broadcast. It's a shame, because it is good stuff, even though it branches out from the pure development of the language more than I would prefer, myself. (As it turns out, that's okay, Bill Bryson filled that gap for me pretty well!) She's only in it for a few minutes, so I wouldn't watch it just for her, but I did find that first installment especially interesting, even without the Romana!Squee ;)
I sew simple things, mostly consisting of straight lines--like my shower curtain. I'm of no use on anything involving words like bias, alas. Having the shoes is a good start, though! Have you tried looking for vintage dresses, either as inspiration, or to buy? I have to say, I think the clothes for Charley would be the easy part, since you're not trying to match anything you've already seen.
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Date: 2006-07-23 08:24 pm (UTC)My library has TSoE on VHS. *g* I read the Bryson book sometime ago...I remember very little of it, though, so I may have to reread it sometime. Aside from the Romana!Squee, I'm particularly interested in the first segment 'cause of the Anglo-Saxon.
The only things I can do, sewing-wise, are hemming, and sewing buttons on. Oh, I made a pillow once. A very plain one. But I hear dresses tend to be easy to sew...? And I have access to a sewing machine, and I can follow directions pretty well, so as long as bias cut isn't terribly complicated, I should be okay if I choose a simple enough pattern.
I think I'm a bit larger than most vintage dresses (I have dresses in sizes 10-14, but I tend toward the upper end of that spectrum), which are often horribly expensive anyway. I suppose there might be some out there in thrift shops that aren't actually from the thirties, but look like it? If I were after an evening dress, it would be simpler, because most of the styles that are labeled today as "elegant" and "classic" came out of that decade. But I want something that will go with lace-up Oxford-type walking shoes, and also would be something Charley would probably wear to go on a regular sort of adventure with the Doctor, a la Rose's blue jeans and T-shirts.
And yeah, it's nice not to be trying to match something I've seen on TV. :)
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Date: 2006-07-23 08:33 pm (UTC)My library has TSoE on VHS. *g*
Ooh, excellent!! Libraries are so handy that way :) Do check it out.
I sewed myself an apron and a pair of trousers when I was in middle school Home Ec class. Otherwise, I repair things like broken seams, and occasionally do something crazy like make myself curtains, because, hey--straight lines! I can handle those. And my sewing machine (which may not be mine for much longer in order to accommodate Gran's dining room furniture) is from 1947, so...it's pretty much limited to forward-stitch and back-stitch.
I do have to wonder--would Charley rummage around the TARDIS wardrobe and find more practical clothing for adventuring with the Doctor? I can't imagine 30s-era dress really working very well for her. If she sees herself as an adventuress, surely she would be forward-thinking enough at least to entertain the idea? Hmmmm....
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Date: 2006-07-23 11:27 pm (UTC)I imagine Charley would go through the wardrobe for something more practical, but I figure if I don't dress in something from the thirties, then I wouldn't be recognizable as Charley. (Well, beyond the blonde hair, anyway.) Okay, not that many people would recognize me anyway, but you see what I mean. ;) Also, she does mention that the jam at the beginning of Chimes of Midnight is "on my dress," so apparently she was wearing a dress for that one, at least.
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Date: 2006-07-24 12:19 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-07-24 03:54 am (UTC)Yeah, I figure if I wear what Charley would probably actually pick, I'd get mistaken for, like, Benny or someone. ;)
I've only just started TCoM, but can't wait to continue!
Eeee! So good.
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Date: 2006-08-08 02:13 pm (UTC)Depends on your fabric. Get something flowy and forgiving, and be careful not to let the seams pucker (you'd rather have excess at the end of the seam and trim it off) and you're golden.
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Date: 2006-08-08 04:38 pm (UTC)I am...not an accomplished seamstress, and I probably have no call to be attempting this kind of project without more experience. But I suppose that's what the supervisory powers of a mother are for... ;)
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Date: 2006-07-24 12:06 am (UTC)Not that I'd ever discourage you from following your Romana fashion bliss, but glad you're not forgetting my Charley. *g* I'm working on the Eight costume... (IE, I've requested one from mom for my birthday, and delivered her some photo reference. *snerk*)
Peeking at your reading list like I always do: How's 'Faerie Tale'? I've read the first few of Feist's "Rift War" books and like them quite a bit...
And back to Tara: Did you know Paul Cornell wrote a short Shakespearean play taking the 7th Doctor back to Tara? It's in "Decalog 2". In iambic pentameter, no less. It's basically WhoSpeare! Very silly fun, I think you'd love it. *g*
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Date: 2006-07-24 03:53 am (UTC)Yeah, I suppose that's more accurate.
I'm working on the Eight costume... (IE, I've requested one from mom for my birthday, and delivered her some photo reference. *snerk*)
Heh. I'm still looking for a good inspiration/pattern for my Charley dress. I need to find one that's not devilishly difficult (bias cut looks like it involves folding patterns and redoing them, and that is so out), or maybe I'll luck out and find something suitable pre-made. :)
Peeking at your reading list like I always do: How's 'Faerie Tale'?
Haven't started it yet. Probably will tomorrow or the day after; got a bit of Orlando left to finish, and of course there's your novel... (I'm at page 260! Woot! I totally have seven pages of single-spaced notes so far.)
It's basically WhoSpeare! Very silly fun, I think you'd love it. *g*
Fun times! Is that online somewhere?
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Date: 2006-07-24 05:02 am (UTC)WhoSpeare: Not online as far as I know. Decalog 2 was a story collection published by Virgin, so quite a while back. You might be able to track a copy down second hand, though. Half Price Books seems to occasionally get them in, even...
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Date: 2006-07-24 08:34 pm (UTC)WhoSpeare: Ah, "Decalog 2" sounded like a fanzine title, so I just wondered. Might look it up online sometime...
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Date: 2006-07-25 06:12 am (UTC)Decalog 2: Yeah, does sound fanzine-y. Heh. You should still be able to find copies, though. I checked the Out of Print search at work, and we can get a copy in near-new condition for about $12...
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Date: 2006-07-26 04:43 pm (UTC)Hey. HEY. I could totally do that...
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Date: 2006-08-08 02:15 pm (UTC)??? Good heavens, what patterns are you looking at? Someone's overcomplicating things terribly!
Vogue's vintage line has THE best 30s patterns. Simplicity has some nice ones too. And they're not all bias.
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Date: 2006-08-08 04:38 pm (UTC)Something online somewhere...don't remember now. I think I just typed in "thirties dress patterns" into Google to see if there were any, how difficult they looked, etc.
Vogue's vintage line has THE best 30s patterns. Simplicity has some nice ones too. And they're not all bias.
Oooh, I'll look at those. Thanks!
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Date: 2006-08-08 04:59 pm (UTC)If you don't have experience with that sort of thing, definitely stick with the big commercial pattern companies (i.e. the ones you get in everyday fabric stores). A lot of costumers are snobs about them, but that attitude is mostly obsolete -- especially with the Vogue ones, which are direct copies of ones they actually published in the years in question, but with updated printing conventions and instructions. And if you have trouble with the instructions, they have help lines.
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Date: 2006-08-08 05:57 pm (UTC)...Perhaps? All I remember was that it seemed to involve a lot of folding and measuring and looked entirely too complicated for my tastes.
I will definitely look into the big pattern companies. Once I realized that they had patterns for what I wanted, I figured that was what I would do anyway--either that or comb through thrift shops for vaguely-Charleyish sorts of clothes.
And if you have trouble with the instructions, they have help lines.
Heeeeey. Awesome.
Random observations (mostly clothing-related)
Date: 2006-08-08 02:10 pm (UTC)In my experience, the "standard" inseam for women's jeans is 32, regardless of size. Short is 30, long or tall is 34. The latter being my holy grail, which I've been ecstatic to find in plain old regular Levis and Lees at Meijer and Wal-Mart the last couple of years. Victoria's Secret also does most of their jeans in all three inseams, but tend not to be cut well for hourglass proportions -- it's that "either snug hips or gappy waistband" problem.
Levi's stretch bootcuts make me all kinds of happy. Actually, ANYTHING that doesn't stop three inches above my ankle makes me all kinds of happy. People can mock 80s slouchy boots and legwarmers all they want, but they were the only thing between me and displaying my high-waters to the world throughout high school!
while I think that any bread product which has a spice like cinnamon and little fruit bits in it damn well better be sweet, or what's the point, really?
I agree with this, except for the part where I kinda think such a thing is already sweet and doesn't need additional sugar. But I'm pretty much always about the option that isn't presented. *g* Cinnamon raisin with just butter, however, sounds divine.
Re: Random observations (mostly clothing-related)
Date: 2006-08-08 04:33 pm (UTC)I, on the other hand, have no such excuse. *g* I just really like purple.
In my experience, the "standard" inseam for women's jeans is 32, regardless of size.
Really? To me, when, say, a size 14 and a size 4 are hanging beside each other on a rack, the 4 looks noticibly shorter. Is there something else that accounts for this, or am I just shopping at weird places? :)
The latter being my holy grail, which I've been ecstatic to find in plain old regular Levis and Lees at Meijer and Wal-Mart the last couple of years.
I noticed that stores like that have kept the long/tall lengths, as well as the average, but had completely ditched the short lengths. I figured it had something to do with the fashion for wearing one's jeans two or three inches too long.
Victoria's Secret also does most of their jeans in all three inseams, but tend not to be cut well for hourglass proportions -- it's that "either snug hips or gappy waistband" problem.
*makes note to stay far away from them* *g*
Actually, ANYTHING that doesn't stop three inches above my ankle makes me all kinds of happy.
Hee!
I agree with this, except for the part where I kinda think such a thing is already sweet and doesn't need additional sugar.
But it's so...bready. Like it got lost on the way to becoming a cake and dived too far into the yeast. (Possibly my expectations are a bit different from what "bagel" says to most people...)
But I'm pretty much always about the option that isn't presented. *g*
Heh heh heh.
Re: Random observations (mostly clothing-related)
Date: 2006-08-08 04:55 pm (UTC)It's mostly the top part -- the amount of fabric comes up to the same level on a 3-dimensional person looks longer when it's flat. The outseam tends to be longer for the same reason.
I noticed that stores like that have kept the long/tall lengths, as well as the average, but had completely ditched the short lengths.
We should switch places. The ones around here generally have way more short lengths, at least when I happen to be looking.
My guess is they're misjudging their local markets, and we're both getting there behind the feeding frenzy. ;-)
I figured it had something to do with the fashion for wearing one's jeans two or three inches too long.
For a while there, I was figuring I was completely screwed when that finally goes out, because when it came in was the first time in my life I was finding pants long enough. And they have this weird chain reaction where, because the hem (which is at the normal place on me) is meant to be covering most of a 4-inch platform shoe, the place where the knees should be is about three inches above my actual knees. I have one pair with pseudo-military style details, including dinky little knee tucks, of which the bottom ones hit just above my knee. Fortunately, they're not very noticeable -- if they were like real BDU knee tucks, they'd look very silly!
Crossing my fingers that the brands actually bothering to do lengths for women's pants will continue to do so after the "drag your hems on the ground in heels" phase finally passes. Even five years ago, it was practically impossible to find.
Re: Random observations (mostly clothing-related)
Date: 2006-08-08 05:53 pm (UTC)Ah, I see. That makes sense.
We should switch places. The ones around here generally have way more short lengths, at least when I happen to be looking.
Huh. How strange. Literally the last time I saw any pair of pants in a short length was when I was in high school. And that's in two different markets, since I would occasionally look for jeans up at school. (And there was England, of course, but I realized quickly that I was never going to find a pair of pants to fit me over there. NEVER. And even if I did, it'd be three times as expensive.)
My guess is they're misjudging their local markets, and we're both getting there behind the feeding frenzy. ;-)
Hey, definitely possible.
For a while there, I was figuring I was completely screwed when that finally goes out, because when it came in was the first time in my life I was finding pants long enough.
Oh, my. I suppose it does suck more to have too-short pants than too-long ones.
Crossing my fingers that the brands actually bothering to do lengths for women's pants will continue to do so after the "drag your hems on the ground in heels" phase finally passes.
Yes!