It’s a structure that’s common to a lot of shonen (teenaged boy) anime series, video games, fantasy novels, and heck, classical epics (Dante’s Inferno, anyone?): it probably has a name already that I’m too lazy to look up, so I’ll just call it a Tower Quest. A Tower Quest is where the protagonist works theirContinue reading “Cartoons for Grownups: What Does it Mean to Win? (Solo Leveling and Hell’s Paradise)”
Author Archives: mourningdove
Cartoons for Grownups: What Does It Mean to Be Human? (Kaiju No. 8 and NieR: Automata)
A lot of the anime I watch poses this question, probably because I tack toward sci-fi and cyberpunk shows. But it’s hard to think of recent shows that orbit around it more than these two–one of which is about a near-future monster-fighting task force (Kaiju No. 8) and the other, about Humanity’s attempts to reclaimContinue reading “Cartoons for Grownups: What Does It Mean to Be Human? (Kaiju No. 8 and NieR: Automata)”
Cartoons for Grownups: What Does It Mean to Be a Woman? (Apothecary Diaries and Raven of the Inner Palace)
These two shows have a lot in common: they’re both based on light novels written by Japanese women authors; they both follow quirky harem residents in an alternate/fantasy version of Imperial China; they both have an episodic mystery structure where the heroine plays detective; they both build romantic tension between the heroine and the EmperorContinue reading “Cartoons for Grownups: What Does It Mean to Be a Woman? (Apothecary Diaries and Raven of the Inner Palace)”
ESC #24
Woo, this one was chef-y; at least the main course. I cannot for the life of me locate the Food & Wine recipe for Grilled Black Cod and Herb Bundles with Elk Spice online anymore, but it’s probably not up your alley unless your alley runs behind a Michelin-starred destination restaurant on an island inContinue reading “ESC #24”
Wednesday’s Child: Fallout
I was reflecting on this yesterday, and I think it’s worth saying out loud (so to speak) because I wish someone had said it to me in my marriage.* If you’re in a relationship and you EVER find yourself thinking, “I’m not going to say/do anything to stick up for myself in this situation becauseContinue reading “Wednesday’s Child: Fallout”
A Weekend on the Sonoma Coast
Friday: I camp at Wright’s Beach b/c they have beachfront sites and are dog-friendly, but Bodega Dunes is nearby with its painterly 2-mile-long beach, which is usually empty (no dogs allowed, though they can be in your campsite). If camping’s not your jam, there are also some lovely coastal resorts in the area, like DrakesContinue reading “A Weekend on the Sonoma Coast”
ESC #23: Afternoon Tea Edition
Well, as usual, I didn’t take photos, and that seems particularly unforgivable when you’re stacking lovely little tea goodies on étagères…. But as there’s no going back, I’ll just give you notes on the menu. Personally my favorites were the mini lobster rolls and the scones, the latter of which got a little melty inContinue reading “ESC #23: Afternoon Tea Edition”
Biscuits
I’m not much of a baker, but I make really good biscuits. That’s because they happen to fall right into my wheelhouse as a baker, which sits somewhere near the crossroads of Lazy Efficient St. and Impatient Ln. I can have them ready to go into the oven in the time it takes it toContinue reading “Biscuits”
Gosha Update! Plus Honey Cake and Lamb’s Ear Tea
Not only does Gosha get to ride around on Hormat’s shoulder and be fed cherries in this episode, but he also seems to have adopted another baby chick like he did last year. AND, big news, there may be a Mrs. Gosha…. She only shows up in a few frames–she seems a little more shyContinue reading “Gosha Update! Plus Honey Cake and Lamb’s Ear Tea”
The United States of Tali and the Ballad of Rye
In the past I’ve waited until my dogs are gone to create tributes to them: I do angel-dog cartoons, and sometimes I name cocktails after them (if you want to try the Jasper, it’s 1.5 oz apple brandy, .5 oz Luxardo or other cherry liqueur, .5 oz Cynar or other Amaro, 1/8 t red chileContinue reading “The United States of Tali and the Ballad of Rye”
The Rookery 