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davetheanalyzerSpeaking of that, I’ve been happy to get accepted. Though there was an issue where the acceptance letter and email indicated they wanted meetings at earliest opportunities to book classes. But then for much of July, I got dead air about that and other things that are supposed to be set up. For the latter, it’s apparently a misunderstanding between Mom and I of when they are supposed to happen. For the former, they have a different definition of earliest opportunity than others, since much of staff have taken vacation. So I didn’t have to worry about the issue until they contacted me, which was a relief.
I got a Registration form on Friday and filled it out, more or less. Since I’m unfamiliar with filling out forms, I shot out emails to the MFA professor and a few others, which cleared things up for the most part. The only issue was if the two classes suggested to me, which add up to 5 credits in total, would be enough to get financial aid. My mom told me apparently I need 6 credits, but I want to confirm that with the Albertus Magnus Financial Aid office, or see if there were exception. I shot an email to them two hours before closing time but no response. I’ll have to wait until the beginning of August at least before I get a response and can send in the form. There was no due date mentioned for the form, so I hope I send it in before the classes get snapped up.
While dealing with that issue, I brought my laptop to the kitchen so Mom could see and comment on the issue. She was loading dishes into the dishwasher but that was forgotten by both of us. I got up with my laptop about to return it to where I usually do things but then I felt pain in my shins and tripped on the lowered dishwasher door and fell on the other side. My mom was very apologetic and frightened but other than the shins and maybe some places on my arms, I was pretty alright. I was able to get up and move back into the room with my laptop none the worse for wear. That was the most dramatic physical even that happened in a while. I’ve been fortunate to avoid major falls and injuries for much of my life. I did break my arms while I in elementary school but that was the worst that happened. Hopefully, I’ll better watch where I’m going in the future and not end up really hurting myself.
I’ve also finally started my volunteer job. I went through two of the three once-a-week days I selected and so far, it’s pretty okay. They’re pretty friendly. My first day was about unwrapping tons of pom-pom-like things and centering addresses on envelopes. I talked with some others there and my helper was also present to help but it was a bit boring. Fortunately, they gave permission for me to bring my computer and listen to shows there. My helper got a sickness that vaccines should have eradicated, so she couldn’t come, but Mom was able to drop me off with only a half hour adjustment in when I arrived and left. I mostly by myself stuffing envelopes with pamphlets, so I could listen to things mostly uninterrupted. I did just fine on my own, so my helper needn’t come up if she wants, though as she said, she doesn’t have much to do otherwise, so it might be better she does.
I’ve also been dealing with a bit of intrusive thoughts lately. They’ve worried me some but I know I haven’t thought those things before and I read some assurances that it’s better to accept the intrusive thought and that it doesn’t indicate action than to suppress it. Thinking that way has helped me a bit and apparently that might reduce or even vanish those kinds of thoughts. It might take a while but I’m glad I don’t have something else to really worry about for now.
Moving onto the story front, I’ve already posted We Will Hold On Forever Chapter 3. Working on chapters 4 and 5 was a challenge, and I kept going back and forth on whether to change lines. My Deleted Scenes document had become even more of a Deleted Lines document than it already is. Still, I’m mostly happy with what the near final product is. I’ve also added and elaborated a few things in chapter 3 days before it was posted, to make some things clear and to address a major gaping plot point that didn’t occur to me until then. Hopefully it’s not too much like papering over a crack. Judging from the look of things, this project would be more monthly with the material I wrote so far and maybe even longer than that since it can take a month or just just to write out the first draft alone. I guess I’ll have to see.
I’m also taking time to plot out a few AUs. I wouldn’t be able to post them for awhile but they have been crawling around in my brain so much that I have to put them out. I’ve completed the first draft of a Land Before Time 11 AU where Littlefoot gets caught with the ruined Tree Sweet tree right off the bat and I’m working on a film 10 one where the gang immediately join Littlefoot and his grandparents on the longneck migration. It’s quite fun, and I really desire to write some scenes out for the Film 11 AU. Right now, I have it titled as BitterSweets but I’m thinking of changing it to Tiny Moments, Big Impact. Many are a bit Littlefoot-centric, so I’m thinking of ones that can concentrate on other characters, which I have a few of. Ducky and Spike might be a problem, since they share a movie focused on them. And Ruby has no movie at all. Oh well, I can always figure that out later.
I just hope those AUs don’t gobble up plot for a Magical AU I have in mind that covers the entire series. I’m already thinking of changing each movie/TV episode drastically for that AU, with only vague brushstroaks of the characters and conflict. Hopefully I can make that work.
I saw Spiderman Homecoming around the 11th. I did enjoy the film. Peter really felt like a teenager, awkward and stumbling, wanting to do good even while desiring being validated, not thinking too ahead about the consequences of his actions and that blowing up in his and many other faces with nearly fatal results. He makes mistakes but I still found him likable. His relationship with Tony was interesting, Peter seeking validation in Tony, and Tony wanting to correct his mistake with Peter in Civil War and guide him on the right path. Of course, Tony doesn’t always get it right, though I think him taking away the suit after the ferry disaster is an understandable response to Peter’s screw up.
Peter’s struggles about acclimating himself to a fully ordinary life, what to do about Vulture, and ultimately deciding to go on his own anyway were basic but well done. Even though Vulture kept attempting to murder him, Peter still went and saved him, which nicely defined what kind of hero he is. I liked that he decided to remain a friendly neighborhood Spiderman so he could continue to do good and be in touch with the common person. I wonder where that would go in future movies.
As for other characters, the Vulture was a good villain, genuinely wanting to provide for his family and stick it to Tony Stark for driving him out of business. To accomplish that, he would threaten others’ lives either directly or through the illegal advanced weapons he makes and distributes. He was pretty creepy in the car scene and plotted to kill Petter in case the latter didn’t obey his threats but when Peter showed compassion to save his life despite all of the attempted murdering, he didn’t rat out the boy’s Spiderman identity. He already respects Peter for saving Liz and being a good kid, so his actions only earned him more respect.
Liz herself is a good girl, the stable life her father gives her not making her arrogant but kind and willing to join the academic decathlon. She is forgiving of Peter’s random disappearing acts but you can surmise that as being related to how her father has to be away for work a lot. Since I was on a bit of a AU streak with The Land Before Time, my mind did wonder what'd delicious drama might've happened if Liz somehow found out during or before the movie about her father's weapons occupation and that he killed someone (albeit accidentally). That'd probably tear her up, since from what we've seen of her, she's a descent girl who wouldn't want her opportunities and life to be supported by death machines. Though she might be at a loss for what to do or who to turn to deal with it.
Ned’s enthusiasm for his superhero got a bit grating but was pretty fun and Michelle came about with some great snark. For the former, I wonder if in the next films, his enthusiasm might be overshadowed by the fear of any great danger, like if he or any of his loved ones being directly threatened. For the latter, with her suspicions, I wonder if she’ll find out about Peter’s Spiderman identity and if she’ll find that world amazing or so scary she might want to back out of it. With the MJ hint, how would that play with her potentially becoming close to and even being romantically involved with Peter. What would attract the pair to each other? I’d be interested to find out. And I’d be interested to find out how Aunt May copes with the Spiderman revelation. After losing Peter’s parents and her husband, she might be resistant to him getting involved in danger and think her family’s cursed. Something would likely sway her, though, and I’d be interesting in what. I know this is Peter’s movie but the movie did a good job of fleshing out even bit characters in brief and broad sketches and I wouldn’t mind everyone else having arcs of their own, which MCU at its best can do.
So I wouldn’t mind seeing the sequel films in the future. Hopefully, they won’t be too far apart, since the cast might visibly age away from the high schoolers they are supposed to be. Unless they are going to swiftly graduate in the second film, or something. Donald Glover’s character is apparently related to Miles Morales, so I wouldn’t mind if the second or third film was about Peter mentoring Miles hand over the baton for the next generation of Spiderman.
Not many films to see for a bit after that, but hopefully I’ll get to see War for the Planet of the Apes sometime in August. I was originally going to see it a week or two earlier but the volunteer job got in the way. Since it’ll likely make all the money, hopefully it would still be in theaters by the time I’m done with the two other days I volunteered for. I saw the previous two films when I was going through movies that were well received and I enjoyed them. I’ll try to avoid spoilers especially since few in my circles blog about it but that might be hard as the time draws near.
That’s all for now. I’m writing on Monday night as my sleep schedule got out of whack yet again. I couldn’t sleep and stayed up until 9 am and slept until before 7 pm. I hope but don’t expect I’ll fix this sleep thing by the end of August. Until then, see you!