A Children's Movie With an Awesome Heroine?! Wow, When's the Last Time We Saw That?!

Coming out of "Baby World" for just a moment....
Just saw Monsters Vs Aliens, and loved it! Susan was an amazing character! My favorite moment in the whole film? She was captured and seemed defeated. This is the point where her male companions come bursting in to the rescue, right? Wrong. Just as Galaxar boasts about how impenetrable her prison is, she breaks out and becomes a nigh-unstoppable force as she chases after Galaxar.
Monsters Vs Aliens was totally Susan's movie. It was, no pun intended, all about her growth. Susan does start of as a weak person, both physically and emotionally. As time goes on, however, she gains a great deal of self-respect and toughness, and that's what the movie is all about. It's Susan that gets the big moment, where she saves the day.
The film itself was, surprisingly, much smarter than I had thought it would be. It had a very Dr Strangelove-ish feel to it at times that I absolutely adored. Stephen Colbert was brilliant as the President, as well. I loved all the little running gags that kids never would have gotten. At times, it almost seemed more light a light-hearted animated film aimed more at adults than at children.
All that aside, the presence of Susan, a kick-ass heroine that seems like an actual person, (not just someone's dream girl), as the main character is very important in these days of animated films. I mean, when was the last heroine on the big screen that wasn't a princess? Mulan? I loved Susan as a character, and I'm glad to have her around. Maybe she'll act as a hint to all the other animation companies: Kids can watch girls be the main characters, too. And they'll enjoy it.

Good News!

No baby counter is up because the little fella was born on Tuesday! He's beautiful and healthy, and Mr. G and I just couldn't be happier!

'Nother Giiiiiiirrrrrllllyyy Blog Post: Travel Wear

I've been thinking about the concept of "travel wear" a lot lately, though I don't know why - it's not like I've had much chance to travel lately! (Or probably will for a little while.) Still, it's something that's been on my mind, what with the approach of spring, which usually means out-of-town trips for Mr G and I, (mostly for weddings), and that has me thinking about travel clothes.
"Travel clothes," to me, generally means clothing meant specifically for travelling. I think I first became fascinated with such an idea when I was in first grade. I was reading a book about a little girl and her doll that came to life. I remember little about the book other than the fact that all the doll's outfits were all described in excruciating detail. Though I paid little attention to my own manner of dressing throughout my childhood, I had a deep interest in fashion and costuming, and, the book taking place in the Victorian period, it was pretty much right up my ally. One outfit that seemed to particularly fascinate me was what was called the doll's "traveling outfit." I still remember that she wore a dark grey dress with a green plaid coat and a matching hat.
Though that was the beginning of my interest in "traveling clothes," it was certainly not the end. I developed a fondness for films from the 30's and 40's, (one that's never ended), and I noticed that, back in that time, they, too, seemed to have outfits worn specifically for travel. Reading Jane Austen books, or watching the films based upon them, and seeing Victorian-era period pieces revealed that they, too, had pieces of clothing meant often exclusively for traveling in. These viewings also caused me to come up with, over time, a set of "rules" I associate with travel clothes, though this is the first time I've ever put my (very much unwritten) rules down in any sort of order.
My "Rules" of "Travel Wear:"
1.) Travel clothes must be dark-colored, but black should be avoided. Go for dark green, grey, or navy blue. Sometimes, dark brown. I suppose this "rule" came about because, whenever I would see people in travel outfits, or read a description of them in the book, they always seemed to be clad in these particular colors. I suppose that in the time of coach or train travel, this would have made perfect sense: darker colors would hide all the soot or dirt you'd get on yourself. Though there's no dirt or soot to worry about in airplane travel, this is a rule that has become stuck in my mind, though heretofore unconsciously, as I always find myself dressing in dark grays, blues, or greens whenever I take a trip. Given my penchant for spilling things all over myself, however, it may not be a bad idea for me to wear things that'll hide stains more easily when I travel, however.
2.) Travel outfits must be worn with some kind of outerwear. All travel outfits I've noticed, from the Regency period to the 40's, seem to have coats or jackets that go on over whatever dress or skirt-blouse combination the person is wearing. My guess is that this extra layer acted as further protection against dirt, soot, and inclement weather. As it is, I almost always find myself throwing on a lightweight sweater or jacket before heading to the airport, even for summer and spring trips. (Thank goodness for 3/4-sleeve jackets!) However, lots of people suggest bringing/wearing a scarf/shawl that can double as a blanket or pillow for the trip. Since I would find a scarf-plus-jacket to be a little too much layering for the spring and summer, I might try leaving the jacket at home next time, and just bringing a scarf.
3.) Travel outfits must be fairly wrinkle-resistant. Whether you're getting to the destination by train, coach, car or airplane, travel involves an awful lot of sitting! It's important, in my mind, that the outfit not display just how much sitting I've been doing. Though I don't know exactly what the ladies of earlier periods did to keep their clothes from getting all wrinkly on long trips, but for me, this means wearing stuff in a jersey fabric or something similar.
4.) Travel clothes must look nice. While this is mostly something of a personal rule, it also seems to have applied to those travel-clothing-wearing ladies of old. After all, you will meet with lots of people, and new people, on your trip. You'll want to make a good impression. Besides, I'd feel uncomfortable having to complain to all those well-dressed airport workers if I were wearing jeans, a t-shirt and nasty tennis shoes. If I dress a little more nicely, I'll at least feel a little less intimidated. To me, this means no ratty jeans, no tennis shoes, and, certainly, no sweatpants.
5.) Travel clothes should hit at the knee or below. They also should display as little cleavage as possible. I have terrible posture. When I'm bored, tired, or uncomfortable, it tends to get worse. Therefore, I am leaning all over the place whenever I'm waiting at the airport. Lord knows what kind of an eyeful I'd give people if I didn't abide by this particular rule! Plus, airports and airplanes get cold. Traveling women of the Regency period to the 40's also seem to have used this rule, but then, they tended to be careful about just how much and how they were showing some skin. For me, this means I usually wear pants or nice jeans, though I've worn a knee-length dress on a plane.
6.) Travel clothes should be comfortable. This is definitely a personal rule, and, to my own mind, the most important. Again, traveling, however you do it, usually involves lots and lots of sitting. Anything that digs into your back, or your stomach, or is really, really itchy, should not be worn while traveling. (Or at all, to be honest!) You have to be able to breathe on the plane, (or wherever), so it's important to be comfortable. Though jeans are usually comfortable enough for me, I also like the idea of something like drawstring pants in a sturdy cotton twill. With the right top you'll still look impressive, and you can always tie it more loosely on the plane. (So long as you make sure they won't fall off when you stand up!)

My perfect outfit I think would be a pair of dark gray sturdy twill drawstring pants, a jersey fabric higher scoopnecked shirt dark green or navy blue, with a lightweight jacket or long, lightweight cardigan, and maybe a shawl worn as a scarf, with a comfortable pair of ballet flats.

Something That's Always Bugged Me About the Star Wars Prequels...

All that advanced technology, and yet, there are, apparently, no contraceptives in that galaxy?!
I mean, seriously, if they had a marriage that they needed to keep secret, wouldn't it have been a good idea to avoid getting pregnant?! And yet, there's no mention made of any efforts they might have gone through to prevent pregnancy. It's just, "Oh, hey, look! You're pregnant! What now?" Maybe, just maybe, it would've been wise to think about that before they started makin' babies. That's all I'm saying.
That, and Padme knowingly marries someone that's already admitted to being a murderous lunatic. (Not to mention, someone with an apparent penchant for slaughtering children.) Her response to that is to marry him and bear his children?! What. The. Hell.

Yes; watched Episodes II and III the other day, though not for the first time. Felt the need to vent about those two little things, and they've bugged me ever since I first saw the films.

Brief Bit of Giiirrrlllyyy Blogging

I think I'm in love with this website. Particularly, this dress:

Is it not gorgeous?
I have a deep, deep love for vintage-style dresses.

No Baby Yet

I know, and I told you all I'd be having him any day now. Still, he'll be coming in a week, if not before. (My doctor's decided to induce, for various health reasons.)
By the way, I've been watching Lost all this week....And I so am!

Thoughts on Various TV Shows

Psych
Well, I thought that having the serial killer "Mr. Yang" turn out to be a woman was awesome. It didn't strike me as being used for shock value, even though it was a surprise. (Well, weren't we all suspecting the creepy profiler fellow? I know I was, and I'm usually pretty good at figuring out the killer, as I all but grew up on Agatha Christie mysteries.) Having Ally Sheedy play her, however? Even more awesome. Also was excited to see Cybil Shepherd return. I love Cybil Shepherd.

Burn Notice
Oh, Burn Notice, even my love of Micheal Shanks can keep me from being disappointed in you, last week. You totally blew your chance at equal-opportunity fanservice. Micheal and Female-Sam undress at the same time, and you only give us long, lingering shots of Half-Naked Female Sam? For shame! Where were the long, lingering shots of Half-Naked Micheal? Would have made the scene more interesting in my estimation. Also, don't get me started on the "Old Girlfriend Pops up and Complicates Things for an Episode" storyline; I thought you would have been better than that, Burn Notice.

Monk
Oh, Monk, you still have me pissed-off! You could have made the big revelation in the episode all about the fact that it is very unusual for extremely pregnant women to get work, (or keep work, as a few women I have met at my OB's office can attest; they were the first to go in layoffs where they worked), which would have been a perfectly legitimate thing to notice. Instead, you had to make the pregnant woman an idiot, at least by Adrian's standards. (Am I the only one who found this woman far more sympathetic than she was probably supposed to be? She had probably had very little training in what she was supposed to do before both of her bosses disappeared; that can't be a fun situation for anyone. ) Granted, she was still presented as an obnoxious moron in a lot of ways, (pregnant women are supposed to avoid hot dogs in general, but not everybody knows that), but I couldn't help feeling bad for her, given the position she was in. She was very pregnant, and found what she thought was a good job, probably after a long and fruitless search. Then, her boss disappears, and the only other person who knows what to do goes on vacation. So, she's left alone in an office with the phones ringing off the hook, and, most likely, little to no training about what to actually do in her job. Then, to find out she was hired solely because she was pregnant? (Which would explain why she didn't know what she was doing; she wouldn't have been expected to, anyway. She probably would've been fired as soon as her boss' plan proved successful, anyway.) I think it's just a little unfair to characterize her as a "dolt", don't you? Not to mention the ickiness of the woman's plan to manipulate her married boyfriend into leaving his wife, by pretending to be pregnant. There's a storyline I think we can all do without.

I don't watch much TV, so that's pretty much it, for now!

Pregnancy and Body Image

Well, the "Baby Counter" on the side image is, most likely, going to be inaccurate. Apparently, I need to change it to "Any Freaking Day Now." This is exciting, but it also means I means I'm likely to be an even more sparse blogger than ever, at least whilst we settle in. However, this led me to do some thinkery on the subject of pregnancy, and particularly my pregnancy, and how it has changed me. I decided I'd try to get these thoughts out while I still can, though be warned, I'm likely to be even less coherent than usual.
Not only has my body changed during pregnancy, but my views about my have changed, through this pregnancy, At times, it has felt as if my body was growing stronger, (after all, it was making a brand-new person, which is awfully cool), but at other times, it felt as is my body was growing weaker. (I normally have a very strong stomach and can deal with all manner of grossness with nary a flinch, but, during the first two trimesters, I suffered from "The Morning Sickness of Doom" and could not handle the smell of my own kitchen without feeling the need to race to the toilet.) Also, it's been rather frustrating to be treated as if I were some kind of porcelain doll, especially as I'm nearing the end of my final trimester. (In fairness, I was bed-rested for two weeks. That turned out to be a scary time for me, and all my loved ones.)
My thoughts about my body changed a lot at this time, however. I have heard from women who loathe their pregnant bodies, who can't wait to have the baby and get back to their pre-pregnancy figures. They are ashamed of the weight they've gained, and feel they've "failed," somehow, as a woman. I am not one of these women.
I have struggled with body image for most of my life. I am a short, petite woman with an hourglass figure, but I grew up with an older sister whom was tall, thin, and willowy. (Honestly, she bore an eerie resemblance to Audrey Hepburn.) In Hollywood, I'd be "the best friend," the quirky girl that ends up with the quirky male sidekick, if I got anybody at all. In my eyes, this was "not good enough." I wanted to look like my sister, or like Audrey Hepburn. I was incredibly unhappy with who I was.
As time has gone on, I've learned, gradually to accept myself, and my body, as it is. After all, there wasn't too much I could do to change it. Exercise wasn't going to change my fundamental shape, and I'm far too clumsy to go tottering about in high heels all the time. I'd fall and injure myself. However, I had "accepted" my body; I never truly "appreciated" it. Until the pregnancy, that is.
Part of it probably has a lot to do with the amount of compliments I've received; possibly more compliments than I've gotten at any other time in my life. (Excepting my wedding day.) Everyone tells me I make "such a cute" pregnant woman. I assume this is because I am "carrying" the baby all in the front; I look, in other words, as if I am attempting to smuggle a beach ball under my shirt. Though I, personally, do not find myself a "cuter" pregnant woman than any of the others I've seen, I am, as most humans are, very susceptible to compliments. If others feel the need to point out how nice I look, who am I to disbelieve them?
Aside from the compliments, there is also the fact that I have been informed, time and again, that weight gain is important, and healthy, throughout my pregnancy. Granted, this weight gain is supposed to come within certain perameters, (no more than 15-20 pounds if you're already overweight, for example), but, growing up in a world where gaining weight is often portrayed as a grave sin, (thanks to TV, magazines, peers and, sadly, often influential adults in our lives), any kind of weight gain being viewed as normal was something of a revelation to me.
I can also attribute the changes in my body image to maternity fashions. There are two kinds of maternity fashions: One says you should hide your enlarging body as much as possible, and the other says you should celebrate your body, especially your belly, as it grows larger. The former lays emphasis on huge swaths of very loose fabric, and usually start from your collarbone, going on down, turning your body into one large line. The latter seems to prefer empire waists, or anything that nips in at the end of the bust, giving the clothes some actual shape and form.
Thankfully, the former styles seem to be getting phased out, so even the fashion industry seems to be saying, "Pregnant women have no need to hide their bodies!" This is a good thing. I don't like being told to hide my body. My absolute favorite maternity shirt? A tight, empire-waisted, low-cut top with a very eye-catching print. It says, "Look at my pregnant belly!" Since I don't normally choose clothes that say, "Look at me!", this is a pretty big change in my wardrobe. I like the shirt because, to me, it says that, yes, I am pregnant, and I feel no need to hide the size of my body.
The real question, I suppose, is how I will feel about my body once I have my son. Will I look at my postpartum belly and feel remorse and regret? Or, will I still feel proud of my appearance, even though I probably won't be receiving as many compliments about how "cute" I am, anymore? What about how I dress? I look through the magazines, and most of the fashions I see are far from complimentary to the shape I was before, and probably will be after, the pregnancy. (Though, I am learning what truly does compliment my figure, and intend to shop for some new "post-baby" clothes with that in mind, once I can actually afford new post-baby clothes.) I hope that this change in body image will last past the pregnancy. I'll do my best to make sure it does.

I Rarely Read XKCD, But This Was Sent to Me...

He's actually kind of got a point with this one.


And I adore The Princess Bride. I really do. I know it by heart.