Posts Tagged ‘Steven’

Princess Celestia and the Summer of Royal Waves

notebook paper

My Little Pony book report time again!!! This time we’re reading:

Princess Celestia and the Summer of Royal Waves

Princess Celestia and the Summer of Royal Waves

Summary of Amazingness
By Patricia
Princess Celestia is very busy ruling all of Equestria, running a magical school for unicorns, and raising the sun every day with her own magic. But when she receives a letter from her old friend Duchess Diamond Waves, she has to travel to the seaside duchy near Southern Prance called Monacolt to help. Duchess D thinks some scary monster attack is coming soon and only the magic of the young unicorns in her academy can save the kingdom! But her students are all failing her standardized tests so she’s hoping Princess C can help. Princess C is like “FIRST OF ALL, your magical hourglass that’s warning you about monsters seems hella sketchy. SECOND, your students are totes overworked and need some chillaxing time on the beach.” After a few of Princess Celestia’s building sand castle lessons, the students actually start performing magic well! But Duchess D is not convinced that mental health and scholastic aptitude are linked, probably because she’s already sunk so much of Monacolt’s resources into this standarized testing scheme. So Princess C stages a fake monster attack with a giant crab the size of a building in the middle of a beach party to show Duchess D what her students are really made of. Plus, that hour glass ends up being totally fake. The end.

So regal. So wise.

So regal. So wise.

Analysis within MLP Canon and Fanon
By Steven
Unlike the Pinkie Pie book, this one actually stepped outside of the familiar by basically taking a single underdeveloped canon character (Celestia) and tossing her wholesale into a new place populated by new characters, with new backstories, referencing other largely non-show-based canons. So basically there’s little point of comparison—ironic, given that I have a good deal more questions (and gripes) about this one than the last—since the show has yet to ever go into detail on other equine polities (or, really, any extra-Equestrian nations apart from Griffonstone and, to a lesser extent, Yak-yakistan).

Yak-yakistan gates

Tribal council? Rampage-ocracy? Viking warlord? Who knows.

All of which brings up the first question that this raises within the realm of canonicity, which is: what is the relationship between Equestria and Monacolt? Allied neighbors? Client state? Autonomous region? Feudal fiefdom? Actually, politics in Equestria have always been a little bit hazy, thanks to the show’s reliance on a direct diarchy of quasi-immortal alicorns with some sort of noble class hovering largely unseen off to one side.

(Side note: what does Prince Blueblood DO exactly?)

(Side note: what does Prince Blueblood DO exactly?)

So now we have a Duchess Diamond Waves, who is apparently a particular friend of Celestia’s from “when they were younger,” which raises all sorts of questions on its own, e.g. “Just how old is this Diamond Waves character?” Actually, there are a lot of references to things I’d like a little more detail about, like Prance, King Nautilus, and the apparently sentient Carcinus species. Then there’s the interesting notion of Celestia offering up a Latin prayer/thanks to the sun when raising it? Which seems more like some personal habit than any kind of necessary ritual (as we’ve seen her raise the sun multiple times without any accompanying invocations). As to the Latin itself, not even going to go there, but suffice to say it could use a verb somewhere. Still, nothing provably off there. Luna does seem oddly playful about her former role as Nightmare Moon, which the author supports by describing it as “after Luna had acted up and been banished to the moon” which plays well with her character in the comics canon more than the show canon, but that’s a toss-up as well.

Basically it’s hard to point any strong fingers at canon leakage and more a case where you end up shrugging and going, “Well, hopefully some of this shows up again somewhere in the show for confirmation.”

Patricia’s Favorites
Character: Twilight Sparkle, who is back home manning Canterlot magic school in Celestia’s absence. She is a total nerd who assigns hella summer reading because it was her favorite part of school, and “I treated some of them to a reading from Star Swirl’s Seven Principles of Unicorn Magic: Third Edition including some of the hoofnotes!”
Part: Duchess D wants her students to get serious, so anyone caught in the halls during class time is attacked by magical spiders. EDUCATION

I'm just trying to help you LEARN, Frodo

I’m just trying to help you LEARN, Frodo

Thing I Learned:Standardized testing is not the way to learn. The way to learn is to build sand castles and get fake-attacked by giant crabs.

Steven’s Favorites
Character: Discord, who appears only in a brief memory of a “prank” involving making himself invisible and following Celestia around for a week, repeating everything she says in a whisper. That’s comedy and/or horror gold right there!
Part: The frequent references to her shoes as “hoofcuffs,” the way she’s clearly changed her mind about Twilight’s friendship-spam mail, or the Monacolt-as-gambling-paradise reference. Can’t choose.
Thing I Learned: Basically, trolling and/or pranking is the way to run a country, and pulling one over on fellow monarchs is apparently a longstanding tradition.

Previously: Pinkie Pie and the Ponypalooza

2016 Goals: The Fabulous Five

I’m only setting five goals for myself in 2016, but one of them has many parts.

1. Cook Every Recipe in the Sally’s Baking Addiction cookbook

It's definitely my favorite cookbook

It’s definitely my favorite cookbook

I had already started this goal before I realized what I was doing, just because there are so many good looking recipes in this book. Before the year even started, I had completed 28 recipes, meaning I have 45 more to go.

2. Finish my 2014 Goals

It’s always bothered my that 2014 fucked me up so much (for a variety of reasons), and I regret that stupid health things kept me from completing my goals. So I’m going to finish them up two years late. Here’s what I have to do to complete them:

2.a) Read All T-Z of Brewer’s Dictionary of Phrase and Fable

I made it through S in 2014, so I only have seven letters to go.

2.b) Make a Pie Once a Month 7 pies

I managed to make five pies in 2014! So I just have to make 7 pies this year at some point, preferably kinds I’ve never done before. Which should help me tackle some recipes from Goal 1 too!

2. c) Make a new cocktail once a month

I didn’t make any cocktails in 2014 given that I couldn’t eat anything besides english muffins for most of it. I still don’t drink, so these are going to probably be non-alcoholic fancy drinks.

2. d) Get everything (then currently) on my to-read list off it

I’ve been kind of doing this anyway, since maintenance of my to-read list is basically a professional concern. At the end of 2014, I had 7 books to go, mostly ones my library doesn’t own. I’ve done pretty well on them since then:

Fair Coin by E.C. Myers: deleted from list because so-so reviews
Apron Anxiety by Alyssa Shelasky: ILLed, abandoned after the second chapter because of poor writing
Beyond: A Ghost Stary by Graham McNamee: deleted from list because of reviews
Vessel by Sarah Beth Durst: read in 2015 and LOVED
The Night Watch by Sergei Lukanenko: deleted from list because could it live up to the Terry Pratchett novel with the same title?
How to be a Woman by Caitlin Moran
The Fate of Mercy Alban by Wendy Webb

So this list now sits at a grand total of 2 books that I either have to ILL or buy.

2. e) Update my blog once a week seven times

I only missed 7 weeks in 2014 despite all the shittiness. Unless something even more dramatic happens to me in 2016, this one shouldn’t be hard to finish either.

3. Finish all my Craftsy classes

Craftsy sends me emails whenever classes are on sale, and I often cave. I currently own 5 classes, 4 of which I’ve never even opened. Here’s what I’ll be learning this year (hopefully):

craftsy

40 Ways to Cast On and Bind Off

I know like two of each, so I definitely need more study in this area.

40 Techniques Every Sewer Should Know

Ditto.

Sewing Vintage: The Flirty Day Dress

I’m not even sure why I bought this one, because I could easily go to the store, buy a pattern, and make a dress myself. I guess I know I take a lot of shortcuts and half-ass things when I’m making stuff, and I’d like to stop. Or at least know how to stop.

Knit Faster with Continental Knitting

I bought this class while I was making that sweater in 2015 and was SO SICK of stockinette stitch for a million rows. Anything to make that go faster.

Tunisian Crochet

This one I am about 50% done with, although I’ll probably have to go back and redo some of the videos since I’ve forgotten so much.

4. Complete a temperature scarf

Temperature scarves are data visualization + fashion so I’m kind of surprised I’ve never done one before. There’s lots of ways to do them, but I plan to knit one row of a scarf every day, the color determined by the temperature. For example:

There are a million of these online

There are a million of these online

I’m going to try to use only yarn I already have, so mine won’t be these colors.

5. Read 1 book a month someone else has recommended to me

I want to talk to my friends more about books. You can recommend a book to me here. I already have some from posting on facebook, many of which I’ve already read.

Bonus Addendum: Steven’s goals!

No, one of them is not to act less stupid

No, one of them is not to act less stupid

For the first time ever, Steven agreed to let me record his goals for the year too! Maybe he’s hoping the pressure of competition or the shame of disappointing the Internet will motivate him.

Steven Goal 1: Cook one vegetarian meal every week.

Steven says he feels his skills in this area have been left relatively untested, and he wants to branch out from his meat-centric cooking. And I always want to eat more vegetables, so it’s basically a win-win.

Steven Goal 2: Learn a new violin piece every month.

Steven plays in the Really Terrible Orchestra of the Triangle, but he never practices outside their once a week practices, because it’s hella easy (for him, what a nerd). He says he feels like his skills have atrophied and he wants to counteract that by working on music at his actual level.

Steven Goal 3: Finish all Craftsy classes.

Steven is even worse than I am about buying things when they’re on sale that he might want someday. His list of classes is longer, but tastier than mine:

Homemade Italian Pasta
Artisan Cheese Making
Danish Pastries from Scratch
Miniature French Desserts (Macarons, Madeleines, and More)
Homemade Salty Snacks
Artisan Bread Making
The Art of Stir-Frying

Unlike me, Steven has actually successfully completed one Craftsy class, the one that taught him to make his amazing homemade croissants. He also has made the macarons and madeleines from Miniature French desserts, so really he just has to tackle “and More.” I’m pretty excited for the results.

Steven Goal 4: Make at least one case or bag out of leather.

Steven’s hobby of the moment is leatherworking, and since he has a lot to use up, he wants to tackle something harder than a belt.

I’ll give you updates on our progress throughout the year, whether you want to know or not!

Pinkie Pie and the Rockin’ Ponypalooza Party!

notebook paper

It has been SO LONG since we’ve had a Middle School Book Report!!! In the spirit of Goddess Girls, Steven and I decided to start a new series of tween girl books that speak to both our expertises’. Namely:

pinkiepiebook

It’s going to be great.

Summary of Amazingness
By Patricia
In the middle of one of Pinkie Pie’s awesome parties, her way-less-enthusiastic family shows up wanting to see Princess Twilight. They’re in dire need of royal help because the family rock farm is going under! Pinkie Pie immediately suggests throwing a big rock concert to remind everyone how great rocks are, but her pony-Mennonite family are sick of her frivolous suggestions and tell her to get serious. So her friends try to plan a party without her while Pinkie Pie paints her room brown and tries to schedule business meetings. Eventually her family sees she is miserable and apologizes, and the Ponypalooza is a huge success, somehow making people order more gravel and bricks. Yay!

Igneous Rock: Pony Mennonite

Igneous Rock: Pony Mennonite

Analysis within MLP Canon and Fanon
By Steven
So let’s start with one thing; I have no idea what the Word of God is on the canonicity of this series, but I kind of want for it to be canon as written, and here is just one reason why: “Nine Inch Tails.” That’s not to mention a number of other ponified bands, but it does at least introduce something other than saccharine-sweet pop and quasi-country into canon (note: this was published in 2013, before the introduction of Countess Coloratura a.k.a. MLP Lady Gaga). For this book, though, apart from the fun little references like those, there’s really nothing noticeably out of canon. Pinkie is Pinkie, except when she’s Pinkamena, the Pie clan are basically American Gothic in pony form, the Mane 6 do their thing, and parties get thrown. It basically qualified as a standard slice of life episode without pushing any canon boundaries, save perhaps one; Igneous and Cloudy Quartz (Pinkie’s parents) have perfectly normal, if slightly stilted, speech patterns, despite the show’s canon (and a large slice of common fanon) depicting them as using archaic English forms (as of S05E20). All things considered, that gets a pass.

Pony Lady Gaga

Pony Lady Gaga

Patricia’s Favorites
Character: Pinkie Pie’s pet alligator, Gummy, who does nothing except blink occasionally
Part: All the bands that play at Ponypalooza: Coldhay, John Mare, The Whooves, and Neigh-Z
Thing I Learned: Sales of gravel are directly related to rock concert attendance

Steven’s Favorites
Character: Pinkie Pie, for equipping the Cutie Mark Crusaders with spring-loaded shoes. That’s something that would get you on a watchlist in any other nation.
Part: Ditto the bands. That was cute.
Thing I Learned: That either gems are dirt cheap or else Equestria is an economic powerhouse, allowing random citizens to upgrade their driveways with bling. Now I want an amethyst car park. Also that apparently major headliner bands will do a concert for free if you know them well enough?


The CMC mid-terror plot

I mean, let’s face it; they’re Ponyville’s resident terrorists

Anniversary Dinner Tasting Menu

Usually for our anniversary we go on a weekend trip, but this year we just went out to dinner. CRAZY FANCY PERSON DINNER! An, an “Asian fusion” restaurant near our house, offers a ridic 8 course tasting menu, including TWO desserts. You know I was all over that. It’s designed to walk you through the different sections of the restaurant, which was also cool, because I tried stuff I liked but would probably have never ordered on my own.

Drinks

They offered us champagne because it was our anniversary, and I even had a sip even though I normally don’t drink. The menu started with tea service!! The tea was a white jasmine, so mostly tasted like flowers. Steven was not really a fan, and it’s not my favorite tea either, but it was also so pretty!

Cute tea pot!!!

Cute tea pot!!!

1st Course: Amuse-bouche

This one was the most visually arresting, and Steven’s favorite. Unfortunately, I don’t remember what each of the little things are (on the menu they gave us it just says “Zensai”)

You're eating off a tree!!

You’re eating off a tree!!

2nd Course: Sushi

Moriawase: Nigiri Selection, Fresh Wasabi, Ginger

Moriawase: Nigiri Selection, Fresh Wasabi, Ginger

3rd Course: Soup

Apple Parsnip Soup

Apple Parsnip Soup

This included poached apples, shrimp sausage, and hazelnut granola. I was wary of the shrimp sausage, but it turned out to be delicious. Granola in soup seems weird, but it wasn’t too sweet, and definitely added a nice texture that complimented the apple well. This might have been my favorite course. But you know how much I love soup.

4th Course: Scallops

Steven's least favorite course (he still ate it)

Steven’s least favorite course (he still ate it)

Bamboo scallops with nori tapioca, pearl onion, brioche, and uni cream. The uni cream was really good!

5th Course: Seabass

Steven actually liked this one even though it was fish!

Steven actually liked this one even though it was fish!

Roasted seabass with Thai butternut squash, pineapple, and smoked ham dashi. I was tilting the plate to get all of the smoked ham dashi. No regrets, it was super delicious.

6th Course: Beef strip

Steven and I had lost count so we hardly had room for this guy

Steven and I had lost count so we hardly had room for this guy

Beef strip with miso, pickled mustard seeds, maitake, sweet garlic, and jus. Steven had made us steak the day before, but this one definitely put even his skillz to shame.

7th Course: Dessert 1

FINALLY DESSERT TIME

FINALLY DESSERT TIME

Napoleon with mascarpone, pears, pistachio tuiles, and ginger sorbet. This one was the best dessert, maybe because I’m so into pears.

8th Course: Dessert 2

SO PRETTY!

SO PRETTY!

Gingerbread with cherry, pumpkin seeds, and kobocha squash ice cream. And fancy chocolate writing!!!!

This dinner was so fun!!! The service was excellent and very fancy–they always came out with two people so that they could set it in front of us at the same time. Afterwards, one of the chefs came out to talk to us, which was so great, because we got to thank her in person for how pretty and delicious everything was. This was definitely one of those meals I’ll remember for a long time

Happy 4th Anniversary!!

Happy 4th Anniversary!!

Adventures in Leather Costumery (or, a comedy of construction errors)

Let’s start with the obligatory finished-product shot:

The finished product

The finished product

So this all started when I’d been thinking about picking up a new hobby (ostensibly to make some leather bits for my own costume this year) and Patricia mentioned an idea she had for a monstrumologist costume. What she came up with was something that could do bandolier duty, but go with the awesome khaki safari jacket and pith helmet at the same time. After a little digging, I came up with an old fashioned Sam Browne belt, onto which we could always strap other accouterments.

Sam Browne belt

Old school Czech military uniform, looking super dapper.

It’s a belt, two-tongued buckle, over-the-shoulder strap, and a little hardware. Can’t be that hard, right? (Famous
last words)

Here’s how it all came together…

Read the rest of this entry »

Birthday Week Part 1: Steven gets a mohawk and I get a job

As you know, Steven and I were born two years and one day apart. Meaning that our relationship faces the trying hurtle of back to back birthdays. It’s really hard not having everything be all about me around my birthday, but SOMEHOW I persevere. This year was especially dramatic because Steven turned 30. And went through some kind of crisis of hair:

The sides of his head can feel the breeze for the first time since infancy

The sides of his head can feel the breeze for the first time since infancy

However, mohawk styling–or really, any styling–isn’t an inborn skill. It’s taken lots of practice.

Steven owns way more haircare products than me

Steven owns way more haircare products than me

He actually owned more haircare products than me before this too.

Plus, who do you think takes the longest to get ready now?

Plus, who do you think takes the longest to get ready now?

Again, it was actually always him.

Isn't perfection worth it, though?

Isn’t perfection worth it, though?

BEAUTY TAKES TIME

BEAUTY TAKES TIME

He also had a concert two days before his birthday, the perfect occasion to debut an awesome new hair:

Concert master style

Concert master style

I also noticed him getting a lot more compliments from people in the audience during intermission and after, maybe because he stands out way more now.

He just wants attention

He just wants attention

For Steven’s birthday lunch, we went to Lucky 32!!

First lunch as a 30-year-old!!!

First lunch as a 30-year-old!!!

They had strawberry shortcake for dessert!

So old. So mature.

So old. So mature.

As for me, I got a new job at the library! Exciting birthday present from Wake County!!!

Twice the swag

Twice the swag

Next: Birthday Week Part 2: Las Vegas

Servery Challenge: North Carolina Edition!

It is with great confusion that I report our strangest servery challenge to date. Everything with edible?? There was no clear winner? Rob’s didn’t shave a few years off my life?? Yes, all true. Usually these cooking competitions feature one entry that is the worst thing you’ve ever had in your mouth, one that seems good by comparison, and the rest just various brands of mediocre. But this time…? Maybe it was that we each got 25 minutes to cook. Maybe it was our new and improved kitchen set up. Maybe it was Brian Reinhart. Maybe the theme, THE SPIRIT OF NORTH CAROLINA, made everyone strive for greatness.

Rob's was definitely the most surprising. In that it tasted good

Rob’s was definitely the most surprising. In that it tasted good

Rob
Time: ~22 minutes
Dish Name: Stick it in Your Mouth
Description: Southern-style biscuits with bacon cooked in pepper jelly with pimento cheese

For someone who grew up in Syracuse, Rob definitely understands North Carolina food. The bacon was the main issue with this one–it was chewy and hard to eat in pieces. But I’ll take it over strawberries mixed with pickle juice any day.

Brian went all out for his first servery challenge

Brian went all out for his first servery challenge

Brian
Time: ~20 minutes
Dish Name: Sheesh-Carolina
Description: Sausage, Shallots, and Cherry Tomatoes on a stick, cooked in Cheerwine

These were actually pretty tasty! I feel like it could have done a little better highlighting the Cheerwine, the main thing that makes this dish North Carolina-related. Brian had never tried it before buying it to make this challenge, so he was trusting in North Carolina to make something great. Of course, his trust was not misplaced.

Awww yeah

Awww yeah

Patricia
Time: ~12 minutes
Dish Name: Shakalacky
Description: A Cackalacky milkshake made with Carolina Creamery vanilla ice cream and Mapleview milk

True to my usual strategy of making something quick and easy, I went for a dish with only three, beautiful, entirely local ingredients. Cackalacky is a sweet potato-based hot sauce made in Chapel Hill, and the key to success was using just enough of it to give the milkshake a little kick.

Also, ridic plating. Very important.

Also, ridic plating. Very important.

You KNOW Steven went overboard. It's pretty much a servery challenge given

You KNOW Steven went overboard. It’s pretty much a servery challenge given

Steven
Time: ~45 minutes
Dish Name: Shrimp N’ Grits
Description: Wild-caught shrimp, North Carolina grits, a roux of mushroom and ham gravy

Steven’s was legitimately what we had for dinner. Dude pretty much ignored the time limit because “I’m hungry.” Shrimp and grits is more of a South Carolina thing?? But these were delicious. But can you really still be considered if you took almost twice as long as everyone else? Time limit was 25 minutes…

Deliciousness v. time, the perennial Steven debate

Deliciousness v. time, the perennial Steven debate

Anyway, in the end we had a four-way tie with each of us getting one vote. So maybe it’s up to you to decide?? Cast your votes now!

So Steven can make croissants now

Steven got this Craftsy course on croissant making on Black Friday. Making croissants is finicky and takes a long time, so of course Steven loves it.

Croissants take a lot of butter, yo

Croissants take a lot of butter, yo

Usually, Steven has trouble making doughs and I end up swooping in to save the day, but not this time:

The outfit must have helped

The outfit must have helped

The process involves a lot of folding your sheet of butter into your dough:

Yeah, that top square is all butter

Yeah, that top square is all butter

Of course you have to measure to get everything precise

Of course you have to measure to get everything precise

Rolling pin action!

Rolling pin action!

Finally, after much toil, they started to look like croissants:

Laaaaaaaadies

Laaaaaaaadies

Unfortunately, he had to leave them proofing to go to orchestra practice:

Hella professional proofing set up

Hella professional proofing set up

So it was left to me to actually get them in the oven:

Steven trusts me too much

Steven trusts me too much

Luckily, my part wasn’t that hard, and they turned out beautifully:

Perfection

Perfection

The insides are just the right flaky consistency:

We each did our part

We each did our part

Next time: Pain au Chocolat/I die of joy

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