Obsolescence

This piece of tech has been in my life longer than some pets I’ve had. I used it to read library books, to project scripts during auditions, and occasionally as a flat surface for my mousepad when working away from home.

Finally, after more than a decade, it will no longer hold a charge. So it sits by my door until I figure out how to recycle it.

What’s interesting is how little I’m moved to replace it. I can use my phone to read books, or pick up copies from the library. I took the opportunity to buy a flat screen monitor for my booth, which cost a fraction of any current-gen Apple product and uses much less power. As quickly as I got used to the iPad being in my life, I got used to being without it.

There’s a depressing thread I could pull about the universe and our position in it, or about brand ubiquity and its false face. But let’s put a pin in that.

Starting this July, I’ll be performing with Pocket Sandwich Theatre in their high-fantasy spoof “Herbitts, Wizards, and Borks - Oh My!” as the corrupted herbitt Wheezy. I LOVE Lord of the Rings, so touching a project related to it in any way is exciting. Check this space for tickets when they go on sale, and bring your popcorn — for eating or throwing.

Recent Gigs

Since my last update I’ve provided additional voices for the following shows:

• A Condition Called Love, Episode 5

Wind Breaker - Episode 4

The English dub of Wind Breaker is up to episode 5! By this point we’ve gotten more insight into how this small town works, learned what Bofurin does day-to-day, and caught a glimpse of some boys from the other side of the tracks. The best reveal, IMHO, comes near the tail-end of episode 4, where it’s revealed that the head of Bofurin, Umemiya, grew up in the same group home as our girl Kotoha. This makes them, in a sense, brother and sister.

HE says.

I LOVE Kotoha and Ume’s dynamic in this episode. Up until this point, she’s been pretty chill with everyone, unless given a reason not to be, but she is just so FED UP with Ume as he showers her with affection and praise. When Sakura mistakenly thinks the two are dating, she vehemently denies it, and seems embarrassed by the true source of their connection.

Despite appearances, I don’t think Kotoha dislikes Ume. So what’s actually happening here? Like all relationships, it’s complicated.

1. Ume and Kotoha both grew up in foster care, and while we don’t know much about the actual environment they lived in, that’s bound to come with some trauma attached. Kotoha was reluctant to let this detail slip, only doing so when it seemed like it was the only way to get the boys off her back, so likely she’s harboring some resentment or shame about the whole situation. Meanwhile, if you look closely at Ume’s phone, you can see pics of little kids — likely other kids from their group home — so he’s come to terms with his upbringing in a way she hasn’t.

2. Ume is bothering her AT WORK. It’s not hard to see the different approaches Ume and Kotoha take to living life. Ume has created a self-run community police force and spends his days chilling on the roof and growing vegetables. Kotoha practically lives at Cafe Pothos — we can assume work is the most important thing in her life right now. From Kotoha’s point of view, Ume is a carefree slacker making her day harder every time he comes by — doesn’t help that his buddies like to break things.

3. Ume’s carrying on and treating Kotoha like a little baby in front of EVERYONE. And since he’s the king of the neighborhood, she can’t say a word. We know from Hiiragi that Ume would go NUTS if he ever got wind of her being in danger, so this behavior is less sweet and more overprotective. This concern isn’t unfounded, and Ume being here at all is like a neon sign above the cafe saying she’s under Bofurin’s protection, so dealing with it is the best thing to do…but it’s grating, especially for a person who’s self-sufficient in every other aspect of her life.

None of this is said outright, so I hope the story goes into more detail about their relationship. I’d love to watch some scenes about Ume and Kotoha as kids, or get a chance to catch them alone together. Even if it’s not the happiest time — after all, in Ume’s words, a fight is a conversation.

Consume!

I watch television very haphazardly, so it will likely be a while until I’m caught up on Yellowjackets, but I’m kicking myself for not starting sooner. We love a psychological horror story centering women. We love a split-timeline narrative. We love a diverse ensemble cast of characters with complicated motives and the capacity for evil and rightousness alike. The only regret I have is choosing to eat lunch during some of those opening episodes.

Performance of the Week

Are we all watching Kaiju No. 8? Yes? You should probably get on that if not, or you’re going to be left out of a lot of conversations.

This dub is spectacular — everyone in the main cast should get a spotlight but I’m going to use this space to shout out rising star Abigail Blythe as Kikoru Shinomiya. When I think of Kikoru, the first word that comes to mind is “effortless”, and this is exactly what I hear in Blythe’s performance. This is Kikoru’s world, and has been since she was a child. Her put-downs aren’t insults; they’re statements of fact. Her claims of future excellence aren’t boasts; they’re promises. It’s only when things go south that we hear in her voice who she is deep down — a scared kid who isn’t allowed to fail.

Kikoru goes through some stuff in this story, to say the least, and I’m excited to hear Blythe stretch and hit those emotional highs and lows as the story continues.

Spin, Spinning, Spun

On Sunday afternoon, I attended my first-ever spin class. I learned how to ride a bike late, but loved the feeling of freedom it provided as soon as I did. I’m trying to get a bit more sculpted since I’m picking up stage roles now, and this place was a nice walking distance from my apartment, so I thought, eh, why not, the first class is complimentary, there will probably be a bit of a learning curve, but it’ll be fun.

FOOLHARDY CHILD.

After 45 minutes of spin, I nearly fell off the bike once the instructor dislodged my snap-in shoes from the pedals. I stumbled home, fell into my shower, and vegetated for the rest of the night, only to wake up with quad muscles tight as sailors’ knots. I spent FIVE DAYS regaining my ability to walk at 100% capacity, finding creative ways to clamber onto my bed, or the toilet, or my work desk.

I have never felt more Over 30 than I did this week.

When it comes to my body, I’ve been privileged in the past. My metabolism is naturally high, I don’t have any allergies, and I’ve never been hospitalized for any stretch of time. Most people aren’t so lucky. But like my iPad Air, all good things must wither and decay, and it’s time to acknowledge that I’m past relying on luck. I can’t trade in my body for a more energy-efficient model in five years.

So we soldier on. But a bit more slow and steady this time. Maybe I should start with some squats.