There's an amazing photo making the rounds on social media without credit, but thanks to Google I tracked down the source over on Reddit:
This is Coen in his new BB-8 chair, meeting BB-8! Coen's dad did the chair modifications himself, and describes the encounter over on Reddit:
"They both got really excited. BB8
responded with rapid 'excitement' beeps. Coen had the biggest smile on
his face pretty much throughout the interaction.
"Coen
was emotional enough from the whole experience from that day (and the
meet and greets with Kylo and Chewy) that he started leaking from the
eyes due to lack of any other way to express himself. Coen ended up tickling BB8 and BB8 'laughed' so that
became the game, and was frankly very cute."
Well now *I'M* leaking. This is wonderful.
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Hey, you've got at least one friend you send weird links to, right? Good.
Send this one and say nothing:
Not the photo gallery we need, but the one we deserve.
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I know there are a lot of Terry Pratchett fans here, so hold onto your socks while I show you Poppy Twiggler's JAW-DROPPING Discworld build:
Hang on, we need Poppy in there for scale:
I KNOW RIGHT?!
Here's the top:
I love the resin waterfalls over the edge!
Talk about your trunk space, check THIS action out:
Then there's more, because the turtle A'tuin glows in the dark:
Go check out Poppy's IG account for build photos and more fun SFX builds, like Hagrid's hut! Projects like this make me so happy.
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Speaking of happy feelz, hang on, 'cuz I'm about to hit you with some more:
For George and Ginger's 60th wedding anniversary their granddaughter - a professional photographer - surprised them with a special photo shoot, and I'm not crying, OK YES I'M CRYING:
Just look at their faces, you guys. Forget celebrity couples and Hollywood style romance: this is what true love looks like. Love that lasts and laughs and grows old together.
I can't wait to boop noses with a gray-haired John someday.
Now pass the tissues, I'm crying again. Dangit.
Go see the rest of Ginger & George's photos - and read the sweet story of how they met - over on Abigail Gingerale Photography. You can also follow Abigail on FB!
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With Disney churning out live action re-makes of every animated film they've ever made (and I'm not complaining because the new Mulan trailer IS LIFE), I think it's time to pay our respects to this absolutely hysterical "low budget" live action song from Emperor's New Groove, aka one of Disney's most criminally underrated classics:
(Oh right, it's not in English - but we all know the song by heart anyway, right?)
The water spray! The theme song guy! I want to hang out with these people. Love it.
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Here comes some food for thought:
Have you heard the term "Highly Sensitive Person," or HSP? Before last week I hadn't, although it turns out I knew the concept, just not the name. (In college I read a book that categorized it - rather unfortunately - as "high arousal" vs "low arousal," though it's not a sexual thing.) Anyway, someone on FOE linked to this article, and I found it fascinating:
I'm all 27 points, right down to the lifetime of nightmares and being walloped by OTC drugs, and I think John's most of these as well. That said, it's worth noting that many of these are also traits of everything from anxiety (#4 is a definite sign of impaired adrenals), to autism, so it's not a medical diagnosis by any means. Anyway, I'm curious how many of you will identify with these, and how much it overlaps with being an introvert - or maybe is mistaken for being an introvert? Hmm. Like I said, interesting stuff.
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And finally, I'll end with the greatest video I've seen all month. Heck, possibly all year:
A baby bat eating watermelon. I repeat, A BABY BAT EATING WATERMELON.
Trust me, you're gonna want to watch this to the end. Ermergersh.
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Today John and I are off to MetroCon in Tampa, so if you're there this weekend, look for us wandering with our camera gear! Metro was my favorite con last year, as it's a bit smaller (so less stress) and has a younger crowd that really radiates acceptance and joy. There's a big dance floor and silliness and sing-alongs, and after this week, MY BODY IS READY. Anyway, I'm hoping to have both video and flash photos for you next week, so stay tuned for those - and watch my Story on Instagram or FB, as I'll be posting fun stuff from the floor all weekend!
Some awesome finds here. Coen is adorable, and his BB-8 chair is amazing! Also that Emperor's New Groove video is my new favorite thing.
ReplyDeleteThe anniversary couple is adorable!<3 -LST
ReplyDeleteWow, I'd say about 85% of the HSP list is me. -SM
ReplyDeleteI kept waiting for them to link back to Hsperson.com Elaine Aron's books were life changing. I wasn't broken or weak, I was just hsp. Most hsp are also introverted, but not all and hsps are about 20% of the population. Shows up in animal populations too at about the same rate. Annnnnd now I feel bad for not sharing hsp info on the Facebook group. Anyway, Aron's books are great, though they do mention arousal levels? I think stimulation would have been a better word.
ReplyDeleteI learned about HSP recently and was surprised at how well I fit into that mold. Especially number 11, I'm practically a zombie by the time I get home from work (in a large city with a long commute on an often loud commuter train), but really all of them. @JennyUsagi, thanks for the book recommendation, I'm going to check it out!
ReplyDeleteYep, I tick most of the boxes of an HSP, except the sense of smell one. I'm more sensitive if the scent is something I'm allergic to, like flowers or smoke. More often than not people will ask, "What's that smell?" and I'm like, "What smell?" I think my nose is defective.
ReplyDeleteThe baby bat is right up there with the porcupine eating pumpkins on the cuteness scale. ^_^
ReplyDeleteDang, that list didn't have to call me out like that. I almost had an anxiety attack at work today because everything was so cluttered and loud and people were just EVERYWHERE and I was doing a task that had a time limit AND WILL YOU PEOPLE JUST MOVE YOUR $#!+ AND GET OUT OF MY WAY. Had to find a dark corner and turn off my walkie just so I could remember how to breathe. Getting so frustrated that I cry is the worst. I'm not sad, I'm p!ssed.
ReplyDeleteI'm not 4. 12 and 13 are iffy, it has to be a 'loud' smelly smell. 17- I was bawling at the museum last month (exhibit on slavery specific to my southern state, freaking awful), and at pride. All those beautiful people. That -one- Doctor Who episode about that -one- artist we don't about because I tear up. 19- I've had to just "suck it up" but dang, do my migraines hurt. and my cramps. and when my dog steps on my foot. Yeah, that list is pretty much me.
So glad you shared that gorgeous disc world sculpture! It’s amazing!
ReplyDeleteWow. This hit me right in the feels. I ticked off every box except 18 and 19. I am extremely sensitive regarding animals. Glad to find out that I am not alone.
ReplyDeleteWow, I'd never even heard of HSP as a thing! 22 out of the 27 were like, 'yeah that's me!', and the other 5 were just, 'yeah, kind of?' It's amazing that I've never heard of this. It makes me feel like I'm not as weird as I thought! :-)
ReplyDelete*raises hand* Fellow HSP here too! My mom discovered Elaine Aron's book when it first came out, so we've know "who we are," so to speak, for a while. I just wish the name of it weren't so weird to say out loud, though? It sounds oddly pompous to say, "I'm a highly sensitive person!"
ReplyDeleteWow. Thank you so much for sharing the info about HSP. I'd never heard of it, but some of the items were so spot on it almost made me jump (yeah, so, tick that box too!). I'm a super smeller absolutely, and dislike most smells that are at all artificial or man-made (real roses= yes, rose-scented anything = yuck), and I'm a very 'picky' eater. I'm working on it, but I'm a super taster too, so anything at all bitter or spicy is going to be awful to me. I wish other people (family, mostly) didn't care so much about what I do or don't like to eat. Most of the other qualities on the list are either partly or completely true from me, though I don't have too much trouble saying no, though it doesn't come up a lot. And one thing I remember hearing so much as a kid "Oh, you're too sensitive!" Yep, I guess I am. :-)
ReplyDeleteI always like seeing these posts, there's always something in them that makes me smile, makes me laugh, makes me go "Oh Wow!"... sometimes all at once!
ReplyDeleteI was thinking of you today Jen, I have a big craft project that I'm debating getting rid of and I thought back to you and John dismantling your Harry Potter gingerbread house. I was really impressed by how you guys spent a lot of time and energy on that house, but you were still able to get rid of it.
I put a lot of work into this craft project, but it's huge and in the time that I've finished it I've gotten a bit resentful at how much space it takes up. At the same time, it's hard for me to get rid of something that I put so much time and effort into... especially since mine isn't the type of project that can be given away (so it's a decision of keeping it vs trashing it). I think I'm also afraid of getting rid of it, and regretting it later. Is there anything you tell yourself to help you let stuff like this go?
Oof, that's a tough one, especially if giving it away isn't an option! (I can freely give away SO MUCH - but trashing things is the worst.) It helped with the house that we could re-use a lot of the materials, so we kind of broke it down and harvested some of the parts, so to speak. That way at least SOMETHING is salvaged. If you can do the same that will help lessen the sting, but if not, just photograph it thoroughly, and remind yourself you'll always have the photos, memories, and experience gained from creating it!
DeleteThanks for the advice! I'll set aside some time this weekend to take lots of photos, then it'll be time to say goodbye to this beast of a project! I will be a bit sad to see it go but I will also be grateful to have the floor space back ha ha.
DeleteI only have some of those signs. I think being poor almost all of my life has made me deal with pain to a higher degree than one probably should. My family was also shit(and huge) so I had to force myself to not feel as many emotions because there were just too many stimulations because of it.
ReplyDeleteOh my goodness, that table!! I discovered both Gaiman and Pratchett later in life via Good Omens and Sandman, fell for them both HARD. They speak to my soul. Thattable is life. The photo shoot is wonderful too, nothing is more human and inspiring than seeing folks who have seen all the good and bad of each other and still look at each other with love, tenderness and respect. I love everything here with the exception of the latest entry in the pop psychology lexicon of made-up stuff and overdiagnosis. I snort in it's general direction and refer you to every psychic, astrologer, spiritualist and confidence artist. Vague, even mutually contradictory statements of common experiences that are open-ended enough to apply to most folks at some time or another. Whether it is sorting all of humanity into four Hogwarts Houses, twelve zodiac signs, seven personality types, or reading the bumps on the skull or chicken entrails. The longer the list, the more positive hits you are going to get. And as you pointed out, that list includes things characteristic of a number of anxiety and stress disorders mixed with extremely common human experiences. So the latest iteration on 'Empathic' personalities (whoops, eyes rolled right out of my head that time) is Highly Sensitive People. Who are very likely being Gaslighted by Narcissists even as we speak!
ReplyDeleteWhy are you so bitter? Jen shared something she found applicable to her life in the hopes of helping her readers. We’re able to determine its value and validity for ourselves. Disagree as you see fit, but don’t spit in someone’s coffee just because you prefer tea. Be decent, all right?
DeleteI read them through, and yes on most, definitely #12 (very smell sensitive). No on 19 (high pain threshold, 24 (insomnia most of my life), and 26 (although my ability to say no is more likely self taught, than an instinctual thing).
ReplyDeleteAnd ironically I have been had several amateur diagnoses of autism from people with autistic children ("You are definitely on the autism scale right?").
Starfish butts! Who knew they were so cute? Also love the anniversary pics-beautiful couple!
ReplyDeleteAs for the HSP article, it was very interesting and I am thankful that I can say I am NOT an HSP. sincere empathy to all those who are, it sounds terrible. I do think of myself as an introvert and read several of the other articles on the Introvert, Dear website-fascinating stuff! Thanks for sharing! ��
That table is so pretty! What did you and John think of Good Omens?
ReplyDeleteI'm autistic, and as such I'm not convinced HSP is a helpful concept. It seems like one of those words people use when they don't want to call a spade a spade, like "special." I would be shocked if most of the people using the HSP label didn't qualify for an actual diagnosis of one condition or another. There's also a strong undercurrent of "We're not like *those* people with an disorder. We're Normal." coming from the explanation of HSP the article links to.
-A former lurker
That sounds like a fair critique, and you could very well be right. If it helps people understand themselves better and make healthier choices, then at least some positive comes from it - but I agree there could be underlying conditions at play, too. For example, if I'd just accepted I was a "jumpy" person, then maybe I'd never have sought out treatment for my depleted adrenals & thyroid condition. The same goes for several of those points!
DeleteOh, and re: Good Omens, we binged it in about a week. I liked it but didn't love it, maybe because the demons were so gross I kept having to put down my dinner, ha. The real highlight for me was David Tennant. Dang that man can act! The show is worth watching just for him!
The GO book was waaaay better, but when is that not true? I concur, Tennant is just yum and talented, which is such a nice change from those who are pretty but can't act their way out of a paper bag (yeah, Brad Pitt, I'm lookin' at you, Mr. smiley-face and screwed-up-crying-face).
DeleteThis is a such delightful mix of Gems!
ReplyDelete