I Read The Enola Holmes Series In One Afternoon Like Two Years Ago, And I Really Enjoyed It! I’m Excited

So a lot of people are rightfully unhappy about the possibility that Katara will be aged up in the new Netflix version of The Last Airbender. That has a lot of issues and I’m glad people are talking about it.

But truthfully, I’ve always had some issues with how Katara’s relationship with Aang was handled. Generally, ATLA did very well with its female characters and gave us a lot of strong girls and women to admire, but it still had its flaws.

Specifically, the thing that bothered me the most when I first saw it as a child was the scene in Day of Black Sun where Aang kisses Katara without warning and without permission. That always made me uncomfortable. 

There’s also the way the writers handled the development of their relationship. Throughout the series, it is made very obvious that Aang has a major crush on Katara. But while Katara cares deeply for Aang, she is pretty much never shown to have romantic interest in him - except for that time that the fortuneteller tells Katara that she will marry a powerful bender and Katara is reminded that Aang is a powerful bender, plus that time they dance together in the Headband. But honestly, neither of those carries a lot of weight, in my opinion, especially compared with other scenes. Katara explicitly has a pretty negative reaction to the idea of a relationship with Aang in the Ember Island Players episode - where, again, Aang kisses her without permission, right after she said she was confused. Again, she reacts negatively to the kiss, and to Aang’s pushiness regarding a relationship. It’s kind of hard to see how they could move from this point to a full blown romantic relationship over the next few episodes. (Honestly, I hate that scene for Aang. It’s a pretty negative characterization for him. This scene made me uncomfortable as a kid as well. Actually, I might have hated this scene more than the Day of Black Sun scene.)

Anyway, for most of the series, Katara acts more like an older sister or mother-figure to Aang. And then at the end of the series, Aang defeats the Firelord and suddenly Katara is all in for a relationship? I remember the first time I saw it, it seemed sudden within the context of the story. Outside of the context of the story, it pretty much looks like Katara was treated as a reward for Aang - the hero saves the day, gets the girl trope. I don’t think I need to explain why that’s bad. It was also weak within the story’s plot, because it’s not well-supported by Katara’s character arc.

So the two main problems with the Katara/Aang relationship, in my view, are  these: one, Aang’s treatment of Katara within the story; and two, the writers’ treatment of Katara from outside the story.

(Plus, a 12/13 year old dating a 14/15 year old comes off kinda weird to me. A couple years difference matters at that age.)

This is honestly my biggest criticism of the series. It was still a great show, and I loved it, but as iconic as it was, it wasn’t perfect. 

Traces of coca and nicotine found in Egyptian mummies - WTF fun facts

Albertine Bookstore, NYC

the forever sky

aw, sweetheart. this is adorable.

Bedtime cuddles

Yes! Hobbies are so important. There are a lot of random things you can do that keep you engaged and just make you feel so much more satisfied and fulfilled in your life!

Reading is probably one of my favorite things to do ever, and if anyone is specifically interested in books that are by women and about women, this post that I made a little while ago has 51 book recs in that category! Also if anyone just wants to talk about books feel free to hit me up, I’ve always got tons more recs for other people and am always happy to receive them as well! I just started reading The Forgotten Queens of Islam by Fatima Mernissi and am loving it so far.

Also, here’s a couple of my more unusual hobbies:

I love making stained glass! I’m not a super artsy person, but I’ve found that making stained glass patterns is much easier for me than drawing or painting, and I love cutting and grinding the glass and putting the pieces together and being able to hold it in my hands after and put it up in windows! Having something physical that you made is a super satisfying thing. (my profile pic is a piece I made last summer)

Ice skating! I’ve figure skated on and off since I was young, and these days I make it a point to head to the rink about once a week to just glide around and rock out to whatever music they’re playing and attempt jumps without falling on my butt lol. It’s also a really fun way to stay fit!

There’s just so many different things you can do! Whether what you do is commonplace or unique, just find what works for you and have fun with it!

I think one thing me and other girls my age are missing out are good, creative hobbies that don't revolve around media consumption - do you have any advice on picking up a hobby? It can be specific to things you enjoy in particular or not.

Try it.

Just try it.

Then collect hobbies like anything else.

I saw a girl post a cross-stitch on insta, thought “I could learn that”, bought the stuff then learned it in a week. I churned out so many. Now, I go back to it maybe once a year.

I bought canvases and paints and just started copying other art I saw until it looked about the same. I paint when the urge strikes, every other month?

My friend asked if I wanted to join a rec league with him. I’ve never played the sport before. I said yes. I’m liking it, but not love. I probably won’t go back. I’ll probably try another.

I got bored of cooking, so I started following complex and detailed foreign recipes to make it engaging and fun. I’m learning something new every night.

I watch every new horror movie that comes out on netflix. I have a routine around it - face masks, snacks, lighting. It’s my own indulgence.

I buy a new book every time I fly somewhere. I’m collecting novels on a big shelf. I grab things on crazy topics, whatever I’m curious about. “We’re witches real healers?” Bought a book. “What does death look like in other cultures?” Bought a book.

Just do stuff. You don’t have to love everything. You don’t have to do it every day. Just try things, and say yes to experiences, and pursue every fleeting passion. Get hyper obsessed for one week, dive deep, and then abandon it for a year. Rinse, repeat. It keeps you busy, engaged, learning, and your mind active.

I love hobbies!

“Untitled“ by | Erin Moon

Mt. Baker, Whatcom County, Washington

So I feel more or less the same way about Medusa and I wrote a little snippet reframing Medusa’s story. Athena didn’t turn her into a gorgon to punish her for defiling the temple. She did it to protect Medusa. Feedback would be appreciated!

*************************

His eyes sparkled green in the light. Her tears blurred the sight. It hurt. It hurt.

When he was done, Medusa still lay crumpled on the floor. She was silent now, but her face was wet with tears, and her thighs were slick with blood. He surveyed her with disinterest. “Maybe I’ll see you again, pretty. Or maybe not.”

And like the sea breeze, he was gone, as though he had never been.

Medusa sobbed once, loud and broken. She struggled to get up. The pain was too great to stand, but she pulled herself into a kneeling position. There was a strange silence in her mind, as pain and rage warred with disbelief. Rage won out.

Her voice was hoarse as she let out a ragged cry. She raised her fists and slammed them into the stone. The anger still burned within her, so she did it again. Tears ran down her cheeks. She felt useless and small. She had been nothing but a toy to him. How dare he?

“Athena,” she whispered. “Goddess, my goddess. I’m so sorry. I’m so sorry.” She bowed her head and wept.

“Do not apologize, my child.”

Medusa looked up so fast the room spun. She focused on the figure standing in front of her. A woman, with a terrible, fearless kind of beauty, wearing a sword at her hip and a shield on her back. Athena knelt before Medusa and took her face in her hands. “You have done nothing wrong,” she said, lowly, fiercely. “I would have my vengeance upon Poseidon and the other gods for every woman they have hurt, but even I cannot challenge them so.”

Medusa drank in every word. “What am I to do, goddess? I can’t…I can’t bear to endure this again.”

Athena’s face was thoughtful, inscrutable. “The temple has been defiled. You cannot return to your old life.” Medusa bowed her head in sorrow.

Athena continued. “The punishment of Poseidon is beyond me. However, I can grant you a gift. I can give you the power to protect yourself and others. Your rage makes you strong. I can make you my weapon against every man who would bring a woman low. But the price will be high. Are you willing to pay it?”

Medusa hesitated, looking up. The eyes of mortal and goddess met in perfect understanding. Every woman, no matter how high or low, knew the sense of helplessness and rage that men engendered. Medusa would give anything to fight it. Her face hardened with resolve.

“Yes,” Medusa said, and her voice grew stronger. “I would pay any price. Never again.”

Athena’s face bore a sad kind of pride. “Never again,” she agreed.

She rose to her feet, and placed her hand on Medusa’s head.

“I gift you with the power to wreak vengeance. You will stop any man dead in his tracks. I name you Medusa, protectress of women, and executioner of justice.”

And as she lifted her hand from Medusa’s brow, Medusa began to change. Her beautiful red hair, the envy of Athens, morphed into dozens of wriggling snakes. Her nails grew into sharp metal claws.

Athena stepped back. “Rise, my daughter.”

And Medusa rose. She looked up. Her eyes were yellow, and slit like a snake’s. Her lips were red as blood.

“It will be a lonely path that you walk, Medusa. To the west, there is an island called Sarpedon. Make it your sanctuary. Remember that I am proud of you, and be brave, my child.”

She bent and kissed Medusa’s brow…and then she was gone.

There’s evidence that Medusa was actually worshiped in Ancient times as more or less the Patron Goddess of Rape Survivors and a protector of women and I vote we Reclaim The Fuck out of her story.

Learning recipes passed down from my mother’s side of the family is so interesting but also kind of annoying because there are no measurements whatsoever. You just have to look at it and go, ‘yes, that looks about right’.

Things astronomy professors say a lot:

Astronomy is not astrology. They’re not the same thing. They’re not interchangeable. Astrology isn’t. even science.

And, of course:

If you take anything away from this class, please, please, please remember how the seasons work!!!!