Thor: Ragnarok keeps playing on TV and I see bits and pieces when finding something to watch, making me think how much I love Valkyrie, partially because Tessa Thompson is so cute and personable, but also the character is such a male trope that women rarely get to play. I love the switch-up.

She's Han Solo, she's multiple Humphrey Bogart roles. She's disillusioned, cynical, and out for herself, and even before we see the flashback, you know that she was hurt badly when she was younger, a disappointment that helped create that shell. She lives a little outside normal society, keeping herself isolated. But of course, there's the heart of gold underneath and she comes to the hero's rescue when it's critically needed.

Women just don't get to play this role. Or if they have the basic characteristics of being hurt, cynical, and slightly isolated, they're prostitutes. They're not warriors who come swinging a sword. Possibly they help by distracting the bad commandant.

I love Han Solo and Humphrey Bogart, I love this trope. I love seeing a woman be tough and find herself again and be a hero. Huzzah!

I was feeding the cats their wet food this morning, and paused for a second, and remembered to split it into three. I've recently lost two older cats, one unexpectedly, the other after a lingering illness. I've gone from having four for many years, to briefly five, and then back to four and now to three.

Loss makes me think of Data's quote: "As I experience certain sensory input patterns, my mental pathways become accustomed to them. The input is eventually anticipated and even 'missed' when absent."

I remember watching that episode and thinking it was an interesting way to justify an android having emotions, but I have reflected back on it often over the years when dealing with grief, and how much routines can increase loss.

My mom was the worst, because I was very close to her and we often did things together. She was gone and I missed her but also so many... we both watched these shows and discussed them the next day, who do I talk about them with? Do I go clothes shopping by myself or can I find a friend who will be as encouraging as she was?

Maybe that sounds heartlessly practical or self-absorbed? This person is gone and how does it impact my life? But I've lost people like my paternal grandparents where I was very sad but also, they lived three hours away, our getting together was semi-regular but also sporadic. It wasn't tied to any particular activity except Thanksgiving, and then we continued going down to see other relatives in that city. For me, it's a different type of grief when it's not tied to routines. It's just this general sadness rather than coming up to event and knowing you have to do it alone. Or find a replacement.

I guess my situation is sorta the reverse of Data's, he found routines built emotions, while I'm dealing with absence requiring new routines to be built. But still, I find that quote to be poignantly relevant. Data was a wise man.

My nephew has already found a new kitty for me, but he still has a month to be weaned. So we'll see. Maybe I'll go back to fourths on the wet food in January.

And why, oh why, do they not accept musicals? Talking recently to a woman who saw "Wicked" and she was totally fine with that as a musical. Munchkins and wizards and such breaking into a song, sure. But she'd also seen "West Side Story" and ew ew ew, that was so weird, normal people opening their mouths and singing and dancing. Too much to suspend her disbelief, way too much.

I have heard this same complaint many times during my life and I don't understand it. I love musicals, they are a joy to me, I will see pretty much any that I can.

One good guy with a handgun, 12 terrorists with assault rifles, sure, totally believable that the good guy will win. And outrun bullets numerous times along the way while making quippy remarks.

That a Norse god would come to Earth and fight alongside a billionaire in a suit, a revived super soldier, and a rage monster, sure, no problem. Admittedly, I know two people, my dad and a former boss, who roll their eyes at superhero movies, but they've been the only ones. (And my dad even made an exception to watch the Wonder Woman movies, he can apparently suspend his disbelief for Gal Gadot in boots.)

Even sitcoms, that every week a family or a group of friends or co-workers can have some sort of dispute, and thrash through it and make up in a feel-good moment, are you kidding me? Every group I know has some sort of unresolved dispute or bitterness that lingers, even if often suppressed for the sake of civility.

And for the most part, I'm completely happy that people can suspend their disbelief and allow somewhat absurd happenings to be neatly ended, all loose plot parts tied up, in a satisfying conclusion. I like media with good endings. I love the good guys winning, I love superhero movies, I love people working through problems and getting along.

But I love musicals too! *hugs them tightly to protect from bizarre disbelievers* Why is this genre such a sticking point for people?