Too good for the Mu-tant

Let's discuss mutant powers for a moment, shall we?

In the innocent days of my youth, when the animated X-Men series was the extent of my knowledge of empowered superheroes, Rogue was my idol. This had less to do with her powers and was largely based on her sass. But let's face it, being able to absorb other mutant's powers is streets ahead of the three other predominant female characters (Jean, Storm, and Jubilee - WaWa). As my knowledge of mutants grew and I found new idols, I developed a list of mutant abilities I would assume given the chance:
Probability manipulation: I specifically like Domino for her power, subtle but amazing.
Intangibility: Shadowcat is my favorite of the X-men and I love her power for its myriad effects and limitations. Able to pass through solid materials but only so long as she can hold her breath. Passing through an electronic item, her distanced molecules will cause it to short circuit. And then there was that whole time period where she literally couldn't keep herself together and had to learn to maintain solidity.
Teleportation: Who couldn't make use of this? Everyone could use a little teleportation. Nightcrawler is sadly limited in that he must be able to see where he is going but Locus has the advantage of being able to teleport anywhere she has been or teleport another individual.
Pheromone manipulation: Spider Woman exudes pheromones which can sway people to her side or instill fear. So handy.
Bio-Luminescence: I would consider this power an asset. I like the idea of being able to play with and manipulate light but that turned out lame with Dazzler. Being your own flashlight could be useful though.
Healing: I am a healer at heart. I cannot abide blood and gore and biology and am, therefore, not a physician but, if I could heal others through magic touch, I would. Max Evans style.

All of these powers pale in comparison to my actual alter ego, Cold As Ice Woman, imbued with the ability to make your day a little colder with her sarcasm and icy glare. My clarinet instructor gave me this persona many years ago, as part of his Not So Super Superheroes team.

So, what's your power?

Aperture

Photography is a field that intrigues me. Mostly because I'm very inept at it, it might as well be wizard magic condensed into a box. My father is a fantastic photographer. I prefer being a model. *preen*

But one of the things that interests me most is that this medium, at one time a means of showing a moment in time exactly as it was, has transformed into a moment that can be manipulated. I recognize that trick photography has been around for ages, e.g. Victorian ghost photos. But with the advent of computers and Photoshop, our image manipulation abilities have reached new heights. Sometimes these heights are taken to unrealistic extremes but what about something so innocent as color and clarity enhancement, e.g. It makes me question every tourism shot I see. Is that Scottish lake really that beautiful? Was there a day where the sky was that blue and the heather that purple? Or was it a lovely day that was augmented? Colors that were realistic become saturated and eye popping, water is a time-lapsed mist of white. I find this fascinating because it's kind of lying but not in a way that makes me disappointed.

I think there are times and places where colors are that bright and when I take up photography (which I will one day) I want to learn to capture those moments without the filters and digital enhancements. Maybe it can't be done but I'd like to try.

A few of my favorite things

I had to be at work at 6:15 this morning and I have a half-hour commute. Consequently, I've had quite a bit of coffee. Caffeine and I do not mix well. Or perhaps we mix very well because it is very effective. I am typing like a manaic right now. How do maniacs type?

Anyway, since I got to work so early, I chilled out and watched the Pilot of Once Upon a Time for the first 45 minutes while I ate coffee cake and drank hot cocoa laced with coffee and cinnamon creamer. Delicious. The drink and the show. Belle and I were discussing how surprised we've been at the number of splendid television shows this Fall. For the past while my main TV entertainment has been in disc format from Netflix (Tudors, Scrubs, 30Rock etc.), shows that are complete or nearing completion. The only show I have kept up with that is still active is Castle, which is dear to me. But this season I have found new favorites! Pan Am, Up All Night, New Girl, and now Once Upon a Time. Well done predominantly ABC! Particularly Pan Am and Once Upon a Time have captured my attention and I encourage you to give them a look-see on Hulu - if you're into history in the case of Pan Am or fairytales retold in the case of Once Upon a Time. That's where I watch them because both air on Sundays, which in our household is devoted to football and Buddy Holly's Fantasty Football writing. So, there's that.

You know what else I love? Norwegian Fjord horses. Really, I love all horses. Morgans, Freisians, etc. Horses with pep, get-up-and-go. I'd rather have to rein in a horse than coax it along with a nudge every five seconds. But Norwegian Fjord's are delightful. They are small but strong and steady. They also resemble prehistoric horses, which had toes, which is cool.

I also love feeds, Google reader, and blogs. Blogs that make me want to accomplish more, write more often, really work on making something out of Fabled Orxata, finish my short stories (or my, shh, novel), bake, photograph, read, go for a hike. There's a link roll on the right but of honorable mention are:
A Beautiful Mess - these ladies always make me want to put on make-up, put my hair up, and pull out a cute vintage dress. I don't usually have the energy for that but they make me want to.
Joy the Baker - Joy is a recent discovery courtesy of StumpleUpon (we'll get back to that in a moment) but, just in the little I've been able to read, she is a marvel in the kitchen and a great photographer.
Ms. Snarky's Awesometastic Comics Blog - I love comics, graphic novels, and manga and Ms. Snarky makes that okay. Also, as the name suggests, she's my favorite kind of snark.
Occupation: Girl - I've been following Cleolinda for many a year. And so should you.
Reader of Fictions - I have the distinct pleasure of being personally acquainted with this blogger. I love trying to keep up with her library and have a growing list of books to lend from the library on her recommendation.
The Bloggess - There aren't words. I was introduced to The Bloggess through Beyonce the Giant Metal Chicken but have since made room in my heart for Copernicus the homicidal monkey, a haunted doll house, and the myriad of delightful and snarky things Jenny brings to her blog.

I have a Gmail label devoted to Cooking, I also have one for Shopping (things I want to own), Travel (places I need to go and tips on how to get there), and Writing (my list of resources). I email, text, and leave voicemails for myself constantly updating these. My Cooking label is an archive of delicious recipies I want to try. Collected from everywhere. Mostly baked goods because I am addicted to such things but there's some healthy stuff with avocadoes and chicken pot pie in there too. I love tucking away recipes.

I love the StumbleUpon app on my smartphone. This is the greatest time spender when waiting in line. It is great finding new things - wacky, serious, educational, edible, a plethora of undiscovered items. I StumbledUpon Joy the Baker, a recipe for Butterbeer, a picture of a spaniel with wheels instead of back legs going crazy in some leaves, and, just recently...

Drinkify. Input to whom you're listening and Drinkify will tell you the perfect accompanying libation. I have yet to stump this device and I listen to some ecclectic stuff. Fantastic. P.S. a bottle (as opposed to a glass) of red wine is the suggested drink for listening to Dean Martin. Right on.