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Humanjazz's avatar

PENVY!!!

And, Grave of the Fireflies is a serious bummer, but a beautiful story of the horrors we inflicted there. On Saturday I got up early and cleaned the cats' litter boxes! I've got no sense of smell so, it's no big deal. Then our lovely daughter came over, and we finally ordered a special hospital bed for my wife who's Alzheimer's is worsening... We're making a bedroom on the main floor...sigh... And, I took the cats to the vet for their yearly checkup $$$$!!! Then a helpful friend came over and helped with 2 trips to Goodwill. Swedish Death Cleaning?!?!

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E. Sjule's avatar

lol, Penvy!!! love that neologism!

I do agree that grave of the fireflies does tell a very important story about the horrors of war and the atomic bomb. I do actually wish more people would watch the movie to develop more empathy and awareness, but it is tragic as all hell.

I'm so sorry your wife's Alzheimer's is worsening, that must be so devastating.

I'm so glad you have a wonderful daughter to help. Alzheimer's runs in my family so I may learn more of your pain in the future.

Omg, the vet is SO EXPENSIVE! All the time!

I had to google Swedish Death Cleaning, wow, that is an extremely thoughtful thing to do for your family!

One of my best friends is currently doing this for her mom in preparation of her eventual passing and my friend is struggling with very intense stress over it because there is simply so much stuff!

Thank you for sharing this concept with me! I hope to apply it in my own life someday.

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Jack Armstrong's avatar

That was wonderful. The alchemy of art - with a good pen and a steady hand, you've turned the ordinary events of an ordinary day into something elevated, worth sharing and celebrating.

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E. Sjule's avatar

Thank you so much, Jack!

Especially the "steady hand" part, because that is ever a struggle for me (mostly due to impatience).

I've always been a really big fan of slice-of-life storytelling, but I get in the weeds of bigger projects and forget.

It's nice that every year Hourly Comic Day reminds me the joys of connecting with others through sharing the minutiae of the daily lived experience.

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appleton king's avatar

aww shit now im afraid to google grave of the fireflies

already spend enough time pulling covers overhead and waiting for monster under bed to disappear...but nooooo he keeps raising tariffs 😡👹🤡

laughed at your "mouth gourd"

and cell phone map of neighborhood...looks like Montezuma's palace 😜

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E. Sjule's avatar

HAHA, it's safe to google!

Reading the plot won't be too painful, but experiencing the film is devastating as fucccckkkkkk.

I'm right there with you pulling the covers over my head every day.

The news cycle is absolutely unbearable these days.

I'm pretty sure he is inundating us with overwhelming chaos on purpose so we're too destabilized to think straight and organize.

I think that's fair enough reason to not get too consumed with the endless onslaught of scary headlines.

I want to be able to think straight so I can figure out what I can do to help.

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appleton king's avatar

true!...its a house of mirrors

and eventually he will be alone looking at himself while we are scampering around like free range chickens (still with our heads intact🤫 )

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John Raisor's avatar

This is amazing. I couldnt do this if someone held a gun to my head.

But Grave of the Fireflies is sooooo good. Have you seen What Dreams May Come? Another extremely sad, but amazing film.

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John Raisor's avatar

...and the brush pen looks great.

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E. Sjule's avatar

Thank you!! I'm addicted to the texture it makes with its lines. It reminds me of Japanese calligraphy.

I saw someone paint Japanese calligraphy at the Asian Art Museum in San Francisco once and they painted with a brush that was almost the size of the person painting it, on a sheet that covered the whole ground.

It was sooooooo enrapturing and cool. I could've watched them paint all day.

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E. Sjule's avatar

I HAVE seen What Dreams May Come! I think I saw it in theaters actually.

Parts of it haunt me. It was so devastating, but also so beautiful.

Sometimes I think about rewatching it, but I'm kind of scared, haha.

Thank you so much for the compliment on the drawings by the way!!!!

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John Raisor's avatar

I saw it in the theater as well. Tried to watch a second time but the beginning upset one of the people I was with.

I dont make any sense. I can watch either of those films, the Boy in the Striped Pajamas, any of the saddest stories imaginable and it doesnt phase me. Well, not outwardly at least.

But if I watch Rudy or Rocky or any sports story with a moment of triumph in it, I get choked up every time. Even when I know its coming.

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E. Sjule's avatar

Omg John you will be very pleased to learn that I AM IN RUDY!

Ok, a slight stretch— BUT I was at an Angel’s baseball game ages ago and at the end of the game they asked the whole stadium to chant “Rudy” so they could record it for an “upcoming film”.

Shocked I never got my own IMDb page for this role of a lifetime.

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Natalie Beale's avatar

i DO like the brush pen! I was just wondering where I could go buy one... oh yes and Grave of the Fireflies is pretty devestating

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E. Sjule's avatar

I got mine (and all the refills) through JetPens!

Here's the brush pen (+2 refills):

https://www.jetpens.com/Pentel-Pocket-Brush-Pen-XGFKP-A-Black-Ink/pd/1793

And here is a link to more refills for the future:

https://www.jetpens.com/Pentel-Pocket-Brush-Pen-Refill-Cartridges-Black-Pack-of-4/pd/1771

This pen is seriously SO FUN! I hope you get it!

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