Triple Christmas Eve Post
Dec. 22nd, 2020 10:15 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
lunabee341. Emma got a 1390 on her second SAT attempt, improving by 50 points! I am so proud of her. My baby's in the 95th percentile. LOL And now that's completely done, and she doesn't have to think about it ever again. She improved her scores on the essay, too, to straight 6s. However, I don't think the SAT essay says anything about whether someone is a good writer or not. First, I know she's a good writer; I've been reading her essays for her college classes, and they're really good. Second, years ago when we were struggling for money, lyr helped me get a job scoring SAT essays, and I hated it. The rubric doesn't actually privilege good writing. It rewards students for using big vocabulary even if they're using it wrong or their essay is bloated. Clear, accessible and straightforward writing gets dinged which is a huge shame.
In related news, OMG is applying (JUST APPLYING!) to college stupidly expensive. We've spent several hundred dollars on it thus far getting transcripts sent and test scores sent and the application fees. Blergh.
2. Escape to the Chateau continues to delight. It is the ultimate in pandemic watching. Here are these insanely creative people--Dick is an engineer, and he can build or fix anything. He's also a chef and gardener and delights in cooking. Angel is an interior decorator, but she makes so many of the things she decorates with. She comes up with these ideas that would never occur to me in a million years but are so freaking cool. And so the whole show is about them making and fixing and crafting, and it's just so satisfying to watch them transform this ancient chateau into something utterly beautiful. Also, they are just so besotted with each other. They adore each other, and it's a joy to watch. It makes me feel sappy and happy every time I watch.
3. I got a Christmas card fromisabellerecs!
4. Okay, I am about to commit heresy here and say that episode two of season three of Jessica Jones just might be my favorite episode of the series so far.
Episode 2
I absolutely adore the whole seeing the same events from another perspective method of storytelling, and it's so well done here. Trish becomes so much more sympathetic. She misses Jessica, pines for her even, and it's so easy to see how this journey of transformation would be so much more satisfying with her sister by her side. Jessica only sees Trish's anger at being rejected and not how much she loves and misses her. Trish is playing a redemption game that Jessica doesn't know she's playing, and so, of course, Trish is destined to fail.
The humor in this episode is A+.
The difference between Jess and Trish--one that Trish can't see--is that Jessica never wants credit, she never wants the limelight. Trish craves that external validation, and that's what's going to get her into trouble.
Now, ultimately this episode isn't going to work because there's no reconciliation. Pining is only delicious if ultimately they can stop pining for each other. So I know that I will not be happy with how the whole shebang ends. But this episode on its own is golden.
Episode 3
I'm enjoying Jess's struggle with new physical limitations.
I like that Costa likes her.
Jeri just breaks my heart. I get that she's looking for a real connection with someone before she dies, and she can't figure out how to do that without destroying what the woman already has. Her clear despair when the cheating husband is not the gotcha she thinks it will be is really sad.
I love the snarky not-friendship Jess and Jeri have. Jess has been researching clinical trials! (Does anybody ever write Jess/Jeri?)
I think Trish's point about Jess not training is an interesting one. I mean, training is a good idea, and Trish has worked really hard, and what she's done is impressive. And Jess never trains and just failboats at life and is an alcoholic, and she's still super badass. Imagine how badass she could be if she got sober and trained. I think at the bottom of it Trish is just pissed that she's had to work so hard and Jess just doesn't.
I am hoping Malcolm will pull up out of his downward spiral but not optimistic.
5. Holy shit! I've got 4 Yuletide gifts! I am so preemptively grateful!
lyr helped me get a job scoring SAT essays, and I hated it. The rubric doesn't actually privilege good writing. It rewards students for using big vocabulary even if they're using it wrong or their essay is bloated. Clear, accessible and straightforward writing gets dinged which is a huge shame.In related news, OMG is applying (JUST APPLYING!) to college stupidly expensive. We've spent several hundred dollars on it thus far getting transcripts sent and test scores sent and the application fees. Blergh.
2. Escape to the Chateau continues to delight. It is the ultimate in pandemic watching. Here are these insanely creative people--Dick is an engineer, and he can build or fix anything. He's also a chef and gardener and delights in cooking. Angel is an interior decorator, but she makes so many of the things she decorates with. She comes up with these ideas that would never occur to me in a million years but are so freaking cool. And so the whole show is about them making and fixing and crafting, and it's just so satisfying to watch them transform this ancient chateau into something utterly beautiful. Also, they are just so besotted with each other. They adore each other, and it's a joy to watch. It makes me feel sappy and happy every time I watch.
3. I got a Christmas card from
isabellerecs!4. Okay, I am about to commit heresy here and say that episode two of season three of Jessica Jones just might be my favorite episode of the series so far.
Episode 2
I absolutely adore the whole seeing the same events from another perspective method of storytelling, and it's so well done here. Trish becomes so much more sympathetic. She misses Jessica, pines for her even, and it's so easy to see how this journey of transformation would be so much more satisfying with her sister by her side. Jessica only sees Trish's anger at being rejected and not how much she loves and misses her. Trish is playing a redemption game that Jessica doesn't know she's playing, and so, of course, Trish is destined to fail.
The humor in this episode is A+.
The difference between Jess and Trish--one that Trish can't see--is that Jessica never wants credit, she never wants the limelight. Trish craves that external validation, and that's what's going to get her into trouble.
Now, ultimately this episode isn't going to work because there's no reconciliation. Pining is only delicious if ultimately they can stop pining for each other. So I know that I will not be happy with how the whole shebang ends. But this episode on its own is golden.
Episode 3
I'm enjoying Jess's struggle with new physical limitations.
I like that Costa likes her.
Jeri just breaks my heart. I get that she's looking for a real connection with someone before she dies, and she can't figure out how to do that without destroying what the woman already has. Her clear despair when the cheating husband is not the gotcha she thinks it will be is really sad.
I love the snarky not-friendship Jess and Jeri have. Jess has been researching clinical trials! (Does anybody ever write Jess/Jeri?)
I think Trish's point about Jess not training is an interesting one. I mean, training is a good idea, and Trish has worked really hard, and what she's done is impressive. And Jess never trains and just failboats at life and is an alcoholic, and she's still super badass. Imagine how badass she could be if she got sober and trained. I think at the bottom of it Trish is just pissed that she's had to work so hard and Jess just doesn't.
I am hoping Malcolm will pull up out of his downward spiral but not optimistic.
5. Holy shit! I've got 4 Yuletide gifts! I am so preemptively grateful!
no subject
Date: 2020-12-22 04:37 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2020-12-22 05:04 pm (UTC)This season is rough for their sisterhood. :(
no subject
Date: 2020-12-22 10:13 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2020-12-23 12:13 am (UTC)