I really like sci fi/fantasy

I’m a skeptic.  I believe in evaluating evidence before coming to conclusions.  I don’t believe in ghosts, demons, angles, or magic.  I think aliens might be a possibility, but I don’t believe E.T. is flying around fields leaving patterns in grass or cutting up cows.

I’m a pretty huge fan of watching those things on T.V., in movies, or reading about them in books.  I love science fiction and fantasy.  Huge fan.  My favorite series is The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy series.  I’ve read every book in both the Drizzt series by R.A. Salvaltore and the Dresden Files by Jim Butcher (very much recommend).  All three series involve nonsensical things like improbability drive, aliens blowing up Earth for a super inter-galatic highway, magic, gods, angles, demons, wizards, hobbits, and all the like.  It’s everything that I don’t believe in in the real world.

And I’m not the only one.  It seems like most skeptics that I talk with also love a heavy dose of science fiction and fantasy.  Fantasy cons often have a skeptics tract.  Skeptic cons are filled with people in Star Trek and Star Wars and Harry Potter and Doctor Who t-shirts and trinkets.  There is talk of latest Supernatural episode and ripping on Prometheus.

Of course, we like our science some-what realistic.  And we like our explanations some-what logical (at least in the context of the story).  And it’s nice to see skeptics in the literature that aren’t proven 100% wrong most of the time (Hermione is the greatest character in all of literature because she’s a skeptic and a logical thinker in a magical world.  And she’s often right!).

I’m not really sure why I like to watch and read these things.  Maybe it’s because I grew up on them (my dad read Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy to my mom when she was pregnant with me). Or maybe it’s just because I enjoy a good story and science fiction and fantasy stories often present good stories.  Or maybe I just like the idea of worlds where anything is possible.

Disneyland season has begun!!

It’s that time of year again. It’s cooling down, kids are back in school. There’s a crispness in the air. Which means Disneyland trips are back on!!

I’m an avid Disney fan. I’m from the generation that was first shown The Lio King, Aladdin, and (my personal fav) Beauty and the Beast. I’ve been going to Disneyland yearly since I could walk. I have an entire room in my house devoted to Disney memorabilia.

And this weekend marks the first Disney trip since May. Just a weekend of Mickey, Minnie, Space Mountain, Star Tours, and two close friends to share the experience with.

Needless to say, I’m super excited!

The big C

My sister was diagnosed with Hodgkins Lymphoma a month or so ago.  And tonight is the first time I’ve talked to her since her diagnoses.  And I felt like both a horrible person and a horrible big sister half a second into the conversation – well, the text conversation.  She doesn’t talk on the phone much.

I don’t talk to my sister much.  The last time I had a real conservation with her was Easter dinner at our parents’ house.  We used to be close, when we were kids.  Then we grew up.  I got into my stuff: college, career, boyfriend.  I moved to San Diego for college just after she graduated from high school.  And she got into her things: school, boyfriends.  We just went our separate ways.

I moved back to Phoenix in 2010.  By that time, my sister was married and living her own life.  We went out a few times, tried to mend the bond we used to have, but it was never the same.  Actually, things got worst.  We had a bit of a falling out.  Things were said that can’t be unsaid, by both of us.  We haven’t really spoken much since.

And then she went into the hospital.  And they found cancer.

It’s weird.  I love my little sister.  Very much so.  But we aren’t close and we haven’t spoken in months.  Suddenly she gets sicks, and I’m not really sure how to act.  I also feel like a horrible sister because I haven’t seen or spoken with her.  Like I said, it’s a weird situation.  Am I supposed to suddenly forgive and forget all of the bad stuff between us?  I’m not sure how I’m supposed to feel.  Other than horrible and sad and conflicted.