Here's this particular story from beginning until current....If you're a guy reading it, know that it's pretty graphic and explains specifically why I needed surgery...
After my last surgery earlier this year to have my ostomy reversed and 8-inches of my colon removed, my periods had been quite irregular. My doctor reassured me that it was more than likely effects from my surgery and that things should return to normal in a few months. Throughout the following months, I had very severe periods, bleeding so severe I was changing my pad every hour and sometimes every half hour. Since this is just for myself, I'll go ahead and say that I had huge, horrible blood clots. I would be teaching and feel them coming out. It was really gross. Since I'd had that surgery, I didn't worry too terribly much about everything, but I didn't like the direction my periods were going.
Then, in October, just before I went to the CEI conference in New Bern, I had my period. I was so relieved I had it before I went for the Conference. I left for the Confernece on Friday and Katie and I spent Saturday and Sunday together in New Bern. On Saturday afternoon, while Katie and I were walking around down-town, I really had to go to the bathroom. When I went, I had some spotting. I didn't think too terribly much about it. I put some toilet paper in my underwear and went about my business.
I was a little worried about it, but not worried enough to go get anything that evening. By the following morning, I realized I was in trouble, so I had to run out to find Target and get some pads. My period became progressively worse throughout the day. I was changing my pad every time we changed sessions. I even ended up staying in my hotel room on Monday night rather than getting out and shopping or doing something because I was so upset.
By the time I was on my way home from the conference, I was calling Dr. Merta to make an appointment. They were able to fit me in before the week was out.
When I went in to see him, he did a biopsy and we scheduled a sonohystogram (a specialized sonogram wehre he injects water into my utuerus to look around better). The biopsy didn't show anything bad, so we had to go on the sonohystogram to determine what was wrong.
During the sonohystogram, Dr. Merta saw a polyp and the sonogram nurse pointed out that the lining of my uterus was thick. Dr. Merta spouted off my options: do nothing if I wasn't in too much pain and could deal, do a hysterectomy but leave my ovary so I wouldn't go into early menopause, or do an ablation and remove the polyp--a conservative route that Dr. Merta said works over 80% of the time.
I didn't know what to tell him at that time. I was pretty upset when I left his office. Of course, it looks as if the possibility of having children is completely out, regardless of which direction I chose. That was the most upsetting part. I don't want that to be an option. Of course, it hasn't looked as if we were going to have any more children anyway. But that doesn't mean I want that option or possibility taken away from me.
So I spent the next two weeks (the week of Thanksgiving and the week after) thinking about, considering, and talking to everyone about my options. Everyone had a different suggestion! I finally decided that I might get "lucky" with the ablation, the conservative route, so that was what I was going to do. I called and scheduled another appointment with Dr. Merta and told him my decision.
We set up my surgery for the 22nd of December. We would all be out of school--James, Samuel, and me--so it would be a good time. Dr. Merta had said that I would be up and about within 24 hours, so that I wouldn't be DOWN for Christmas, which was another positive.
I wasn't at all worried. Dr. Merta is a great doctor and I trust him implicity. He came by to see me before we went to the OR and he looked exhausted. He was telling me that he had done two deliveries the night before, so yes, he'd been very busy, but he had slept well and felt great. He even showed me his steady hand!
I had to be at the hospital by 6:00. We were taken right in. Of course, the nurse had a little trouble getting an IV started, but she did it. I had some blood drawn. The nurse for that had some trouble, too, but she finally found a vein and got what she needed.
I read for a little bit. James went to eat breakfast at 6:30. I think i slept for a little bit. By 7:30, the nurse who would be in the OR with us and the anesthesiologist came to get me. James prayed. The anesthesiologist put the medicine in my IV and we were off. I remember the wheeling me over to the OR. I remember the anesthesiologist joking with Dr. Merta: "We could get started if that Dr. Merta would show up." Dr. M: "Yeah, you can never find that man when you need him."
And then I was wheeled into the OR. They fixed my bed so it was on the same level as the operating table. The next thing I remember is waking up back in the original cubby where I was before going to the OR and being in HORRIBLE pain. I cried. I'm pretty sure I screamed. I threw up, several times--once in the blanket on my bed since James didn't have a throw-up bag near me. I think they finally gave me some Delotted, but I don't know for sure what they gave me. I just know that they finally gave me something severe. I was still in a lot of pain, but at least I wasn't screaming anymore.
The nurse came in and told me to get dressed. She came back some time later (I have no idea how long....I was DEAD asleep and had to keep being awakened) and I hadn't moved. I don't know if she waited any longer or not, but she finally realized that if I was going to get dressed, she was going to have to stand there with me. She helped me in the bathroom. I didn't realize I had underwear on, let alone a pad, so the pad ended up in the toilet. The nurse had to get it out.
I finally got dressed. I laid back down on the bed and was asleep immediately. Apparently, the nurse was back in seconds with the wheelchair. She told James to go get the car. She wheeled me downstairs. I kept falling asleep, so I only remember these bits and pieces. I got in the car. I feel asleep. I think I buckled myself. We got home and I made it in to the house and in the recliner. I slept throughout the rest of the day, waking only long enough to go to the bathroom (which burned) or to take some Motrin, what we were told I could take for pain. I think I took 2 every hour, if not more often than that. Thankfully, they helped.
Apparently, Samuel called Mom several times, keeping her up-to-date. She appreciated it. Samuel had stayed with the Robinettes while we were at the hospital. He came home as soon as we got here. He was wonderful. He got me water when I needed it. He was such a big help.
I'm feeling much better today. I was able to sleep all night, which is a miracle on the one hand since I slept ALL DAY yesterday, but on the other hand, it's great since my body obviously needed the rest. I was able to sleep through most of the worst and most painful parts, so that was wonderful!
I will be better tomorrow than I am today, so I'm excited about Christmas! I know that this procedure has worked and I'm not going to need to do the hysterectomy until many years down the road. I NEED to quit being in the hospital every few months!!!!!
Great Books
To read or not to read?....that is a silly question!
Thursday, December 23, 2010
Thursday, December 16, 2010
Dragon Tattoo Girl
So during the Thanksgiving Break, my sister and I were talking about the book The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo. She said that she'd seen the movie and I said that I was interested in reading the book...of course...before I saw the movie, but that I do want to see the movie. Right about that time, she "magically" pulled out of the console of her awesome Toyota 4-Runner a copy of the book! LOL! She told me that she'd started reading it, but she was sure I would finish it before she even had a chance to get back to it, so she let me bring it back with me to read.
And it has sat on the back of my toilet ever since....where I pick it up and stare at the cover, flip through the pages, and read a paragraph here and a paragraph there, but not actually READ the book.
I have learned that the book has THE MOST BORING OPENING ON THE PLANET. It opens with the main character finishing his trial for having slandered some big wig in a company and then it goes in to the back story of how he got himself into trouble in the first place. It's a bunch of business/economic jargon that goes WAYYY over my head. At first, I thought it was because the story is a translation from the original Swedish it was written in that was causing my boredom and confusion, but with every boring paragraph I read, I see that it's because it's FINANCIAL, business STUFF that's boring the pure-T snot out of me.
But wait....in my random paragraph readings, I have also learned that the book gets into saadism, that there's a high percentage of women who are attacked/raped in Sweden, and that an incredibly high number of these women never report the attack.
All of which DOES sound interesting. I know. I'm a true psycho-sicko. My husband teases me that I must be a closet serial killer since I'm so fascinated with the subject. Regardless of my beliefs/faith, I can't help but be drawn to sick and twisted stories, especially ones that are based on realistic situations.
But, apparently, I have to get through the crap to get to the interesting. If an author is going to start IN MEDIAS RES, at least start with the REAL interesting part!!!!!
I have decided that regardless of how boring the beginning of the book is that I'm going to read this book all the way through. It's been highly critically acclaimed and has been on the best seller list long enough that I need to know about it....from a literary standpoint, anyway. What kind of literature teacher would I be if I can't even force myself to read a book that a large number of "intelligent" people in the world think is a masterpiece?!?!
And it has sat on the back of my toilet ever since....where I pick it up and stare at the cover, flip through the pages, and read a paragraph here and a paragraph there, but not actually READ the book.
I have learned that the book has THE MOST BORING OPENING ON THE PLANET. It opens with the main character finishing his trial for having slandered some big wig in a company and then it goes in to the back story of how he got himself into trouble in the first place. It's a bunch of business/economic jargon that goes WAYYY over my head. At first, I thought it was because the story is a translation from the original Swedish it was written in that was causing my boredom and confusion, but with every boring paragraph I read, I see that it's because it's FINANCIAL, business STUFF that's boring the pure-T snot out of me.
But wait....in my random paragraph readings, I have also learned that the book gets into saadism, that there's a high percentage of women who are attacked/raped in Sweden, and that an incredibly high number of these women never report the attack.
All of which DOES sound interesting. I know. I'm a true psycho-sicko. My husband teases me that I must be a closet serial killer since I'm so fascinated with the subject. Regardless of my beliefs/faith, I can't help but be drawn to sick and twisted stories, especially ones that are based on realistic situations.
But, apparently, I have to get through the crap to get to the interesting. If an author is going to start IN MEDIAS RES, at least start with the REAL interesting part!!!!!
I have decided that regardless of how boring the beginning of the book is that I'm going to read this book all the way through. It's been highly critically acclaimed and has been on the best seller list long enough that I need to know about it....from a literary standpoint, anyway. What kind of literature teacher would I be if I can't even force myself to read a book that a large number of "intelligent" people in the world think is a masterpiece?!?!
Sunday, November 28, 2010
"1922" by Stephen King
During the Thanksgiving break, I acquired a copy of Stephen King's book of short stories FULL DARK, NO STARS. I read the first short story, "1922," in one day. Even though I have been disappointed with King's works in the past, I couldn't put the book down while reading this story. I'm not quite sure what drove me to buy the book when I've said terrible things about King in the past, but I was drawn to this book like moths to a flame. I was intrigued by everything about it: the cover, the title, the fact that it's a book of short stories, and, ok, I admit it, the fact that it's a new Stephen King.
This story, "1922," is one to curl your toes, typical Stephen King. But it's done in a manner where I didn't find the "offensive" parts offensive. Unlike when I read NEEDFUL THINGS and felt that King just threw in language and violence for pure shock value, this time, everything fit together to create a story that is going to end up in the literary canon for all time.
It's a story to remind us that one decision that is made by one person can affect more than that one individual. If you saw the movie CRASH, you saw how one incident affected the lives of more people than just the original people involved--it's how we all CRASH in to one another and affect the lives of many. I think that's an important lesson for everyone to learn because it's so easy to think that when we make a decision and follow through that the only person affected by that decision is ourselves when the reality is that even people we don't know can be affected by our decisions. We have to live life consciously and make smart choices.
It's also a story that reminds us that everyone plays a role. We are all important to the "universe." I'm not saying that the way I mean to say it....it's just that when we think we aren't special or important, the truth is that we are. Our piddly, insignificant lives make a difference in the lives of others around us, whether we're aware of it or not.
What strikes me the most about King's "1922" is how even when we consciously choose to do something bad--evil, our evil actions are not without consequences. Not just consequences such as going to jail or being grounded. Wilfred in the story commits the unspeakable act of murder--he planned the whole thing, but he soon learns that even though he wanted to do it with every fiber of his being, even though he wasn't a God-fearing man, evil eats away at a man's soul.
I certainly enjoyed this first story in King's new book. That's a weird thing to say when writing about a story about murder, but it's still a great story and well worth reading! For someone who hasn't been a TRUE Stephen King fan, this is one Stephen King work not to be missed!
This story, "1922," is one to curl your toes, typical Stephen King. But it's done in a manner where I didn't find the "offensive" parts offensive. Unlike when I read NEEDFUL THINGS and felt that King just threw in language and violence for pure shock value, this time, everything fit together to create a story that is going to end up in the literary canon for all time.
It's a story to remind us that one decision that is made by one person can affect more than that one individual. If you saw the movie CRASH, you saw how one incident affected the lives of more people than just the original people involved--it's how we all CRASH in to one another and affect the lives of many. I think that's an important lesson for everyone to learn because it's so easy to think that when we make a decision and follow through that the only person affected by that decision is ourselves when the reality is that even people we don't know can be affected by our decisions. We have to live life consciously and make smart choices.
It's also a story that reminds us that everyone plays a role. We are all important to the "universe." I'm not saying that the way I mean to say it....it's just that when we think we aren't special or important, the truth is that we are. Our piddly, insignificant lives make a difference in the lives of others around us, whether we're aware of it or not.
What strikes me the most about King's "1922" is how even when we consciously choose to do something bad--evil, our evil actions are not without consequences. Not just consequences such as going to jail or being grounded. Wilfred in the story commits the unspeakable act of murder--he planned the whole thing, but he soon learns that even though he wanted to do it with every fiber of his being, even though he wasn't a God-fearing man, evil eats away at a man's soul.
I certainly enjoyed this first story in King's new book. That's a weird thing to say when writing about a story about murder, but it's still a great story and well worth reading! For someone who hasn't been a TRUE Stephen King fan, this is one Stephen King work not to be missed!
CHOOSING TO SEE
I've had Mary Beth Chapman's book CHOOSING TO SEE since it first came out a few months ago, but I put off reading it because I wanted to finish re-reading the HARRY POTTER series and because I knew I needed to be emotionally ready to read it. If you don't know, Mary Beth Chapman is the wife of Christian singer/songwriter Steven Curtis Chapman. (If you don't know who he is, just go to youtube and listen to one of his songs. In the Christian music world, he's huge!) Anyway, in 2008, their youngest biological son (in high school at the time) ran over their youngest adopted daughter (5 years old at the time). It was an accident, but obviously, it devastated their family.
The book is beautifully written and tells the story in such a way that is tasteful and tender. I wept through the majority of it. I couldn't even get through the Forward and Introductions without bawling like a baby. My experience is not at all the same as theirs, but the emotions involved with losing a child are the same. I connected with the pain the Chapmans have been experiencing since this tragedy in their lives. It was so heart-wrenching to read their story, but it was heart-warming to read how God has been with them through this terrible time in their lives.
Mary Beth vividly describes the truth that regardless of our faith, we still hurt to the very depths of our being....we're still sad and so full of pain and anguish that we often wonder how in the world we're going to make it through the next minute, let alone the whole day. But BECAUSE we are people of faith, even in our extreme sorrow, sadness, pain, and suffering, we still experience and KNOW God's peace that passes all understanding...HIS pure JOY in knowing that one day we will all be with our loved ones again....it's simply of matter of CHOOSING TO SEE God at work.
Oh, how I still need those words. It's been 11 years since my FIRST loss, but, like Mary Beth, I still have my good days....and my bad days. My bad days are fewer now, but I vividly remember when there were more bad days than good.
CHOOSING TO SEE is definitely a book worth reading. It is a wonderful tribute to her sweet little Maria who died on that fateful day in May 2008. It's a wonderful tribute to her beautiful family and how they have continued to lean on one another and to have the wonderful support of friends and family through this terrible time. It is also a wonderful tribute demonstrating that God is with us....always, if we simply CHOOSE TO SEE Him.
The book is beautifully written and tells the story in such a way that is tasteful and tender. I wept through the majority of it. I couldn't even get through the Forward and Introductions without bawling like a baby. My experience is not at all the same as theirs, but the emotions involved with losing a child are the same. I connected with the pain the Chapmans have been experiencing since this tragedy in their lives. It was so heart-wrenching to read their story, but it was heart-warming to read how God has been with them through this terrible time in their lives.
Mary Beth vividly describes the truth that regardless of our faith, we still hurt to the very depths of our being....we're still sad and so full of pain and anguish that we often wonder how in the world we're going to make it through the next minute, let alone the whole day. But BECAUSE we are people of faith, even in our extreme sorrow, sadness, pain, and suffering, we still experience and KNOW God's peace that passes all understanding...HIS pure JOY in knowing that one day we will all be with our loved ones again....it's simply of matter of CHOOSING TO SEE God at work.
Oh, how I still need those words. It's been 11 years since my FIRST loss, but, like Mary Beth, I still have my good days....and my bad days. My bad days are fewer now, but I vividly remember when there were more bad days than good.
CHOOSING TO SEE is definitely a book worth reading. It is a wonderful tribute to her sweet little Maria who died on that fateful day in May 2008. It's a wonderful tribute to her beautiful family and how they have continued to lean on one another and to have the wonderful support of friends and family through this terrible time. It is also a wonderful tribute demonstrating that God is with us....always, if we simply CHOOSE TO SEE Him.
Monday, November 22, 2010
Verses on the Death of Polly Anna
Yes, Polly Anna was her name
And smiling (teaching?), laughing was her game.
She loved life and she loved her Lord
Never was she stiff as a board.
How short she was, and chubby too,
She loved all of the boys she knew—
True, she liked the wonderful men
She would have seen them all again.
Gerard Butler, Ewan [Mc]Gregor,
Johnny Depp, Mel Gibson, and more—
Flowed deep within her dreams always
Though, with none could she run away.
But her fav-or-ite man is her
Son, Samuel Josiah, for sure!
Movies, books, fantasies, and on
She’d mightily enjoy ‘til dawn.
Her collection of books was grand
They could not be wrapped with one band.
Gone With the Wind, Cold Sassy Tree,
Twilight Saga, Ivanhoe, see—
All seven Harry Potter books
As long as her husband don't look!
So, too was her collection of
As long as her husband don't look!
So, too was her collection of
Movies large; they came from above:
One Night With the King. Moulin Rouge.
The Phantom of the O-per-a.
Trans-Siberian Orchestra.
Edward, the Cullens, and Bella.
Friends and CSI: Las Vegas
Shania Twain, Twila Paris,
Sting, and Michael W. Smith,
Phil Collins, Amy Grant, Go Fish.
And don’t forget, many pandas,
Precious Moments, and camera
To take many pictures for her
Scrapbooking hobby, she was sure.
She always taught with all her heart
Never was she playing a part
What you see is what you get. So,
Jesus is her truth, her life, mo-
Only way—He will never leave
You or forsake you, promised me.
Yes, Polly Anna--she sure was!
DRACULA IN LOVE
I have finished reading Dracula in Love. It got put off for a few weeks while I re-read all 7 Harry Potter books, but during the past week, I was able to finish what I'd started. It's weird. It definitely has a great premise and follows a line of thinking that anyone who has read the original Dracula was already thinking--that there was more going on between the Count and Mina than Stoker implied. (I can't get the italics to work this time to italicize the book title! Crazy computer.)
With that being said, though, this books takes a very weird turn into even more supernatural characters and events that just aren't as believable as the original. It is based on the primise that Mina was originally (700 years earlier) the daughter of a fairy queen. Thus, it was SHE who had originally seduced/charmed the Count and made him what he is, but then she became pregnant, had the baby, and the baby died during a plague epidemic. Mina, overcome with grief over her baby's death, killed herself, leaving the Count to wonder if she'd ever really loved him in the first place. So over the course of the next 700 years, the Count who has been immortal, has essentially chased Mina all over the place, but each and every life she's reincarnated in to, she chooses SOMETHING over the Count.
And, yes, in this new life, she chooses the baby she's pregnant with (by Jonathan) over the Count--yet again. The book does end on a "happy" note in that Mina and Jonathan apparently have a very "happy" marriage (they seem to have lots of sex) while Mina knows that her passion for the Count will one day bring the two of them together again--maybe this next time, for all eternity....
Blah, blah, blah......
It was all just a bit too much for me. It portrays Dr. Seward, Von Helsing, and Quincey Morris as some of the most evil men ever. Granted, I don't really believe everyone was as "pure" as Stoker suggests in his Dracula, but at the same time, I don't think they were all so very horrible, either. Essentially, it's as if every single human being is overcome with sexual desires, but the ones who express their sexual desires are insane and in desperate need of help--help which only exacerbates the so-called problem.
I know I'm not explaining myself well enough for you to understand what I'm talking about if you haven't read the book. I obviously found it interesting enough to read all the way through to the end, but I promise you that it's not interesting enough that I'll ever read the book again, nor do I recommend it as a book worthy of being shared.
With that being said, though, this books takes a very weird turn into even more supernatural characters and events that just aren't as believable as the original. It is based on the primise that Mina was originally (700 years earlier) the daughter of a fairy queen. Thus, it was SHE who had originally seduced/charmed the Count and made him what he is, but then she became pregnant, had the baby, and the baby died during a plague epidemic. Mina, overcome with grief over her baby's death, killed herself, leaving the Count to wonder if she'd ever really loved him in the first place. So over the course of the next 700 years, the Count who has been immortal, has essentially chased Mina all over the place, but each and every life she's reincarnated in to, she chooses SOMETHING over the Count.
And, yes, in this new life, she chooses the baby she's pregnant with (by Jonathan) over the Count--yet again. The book does end on a "happy" note in that Mina and Jonathan apparently have a very "happy" marriage (they seem to have lots of sex) while Mina knows that her passion for the Count will one day bring the two of them together again--maybe this next time, for all eternity....
Blah, blah, blah......
It was all just a bit too much for me. It portrays Dr. Seward, Von Helsing, and Quincey Morris as some of the most evil men ever. Granted, I don't really believe everyone was as "pure" as Stoker suggests in his Dracula, but at the same time, I don't think they were all so very horrible, either. Essentially, it's as if every single human being is overcome with sexual desires, but the ones who express their sexual desires are insane and in desperate need of help--help which only exacerbates the so-called problem.
I know I'm not explaining myself well enough for you to understand what I'm talking about if you haven't read the book. I obviously found it interesting enough to read all the way through to the end, but I promise you that it's not interesting enough that I'll ever read the book again, nor do I recommend it as a book worthy of being shared.
Tuesday, October 19, 2010
Natural Horrors
Who needs horror flicks/books when we have natural horror stories?! Of course, there are all the stories we can read or hear about in the news (the stories circulating about the little girl in Hickory are enough to curl anyone's toes) or on any of the shows on the ID or TruTV channels. Good grief, look at the Countess Bathory! While much of the stories about her are now myth rather than reality, there is still a great level of truth to the myths. Then we read about Mary, Queen of Scots. While I've known the story for a long time, I've never read the detailed account of her beheading. Wow. It took 2 swipes of the axe the sever her head. Her mouth twitched for 15 minutes after her beheading. Her little dog, found up under her skirts, sat down next to her body where her head had recently been!!!!
Gore! Horror! Stuff nightmares are made of are all in our natural history, yet we act as if history is the worst subject on the planet, next to English! But think of it! If it wasn't for reading stories in English classes, we wouldn't read about such an interesting woman like Mary, Queent of Scots, nor would we learn--and remember--such detailed British history!!!!!
It reminds me of the time on The Andy Griffith Show when Andy had to backpedal and teach Opie and his friends how interesting history is and he proceeds to tell the story of the beginning of the American Revolution in such a way that the boys all went home and finished reading about the American Revolution in their history books, making them more than ready for the next day's lesson with Miss Crump!
If only we'd all realize how INTERESTING learning is in ALL areas!!!!!!!!
Gore! Horror! Stuff nightmares are made of are all in our natural history, yet we act as if history is the worst subject on the planet, next to English! But think of it! If it wasn't for reading stories in English classes, we wouldn't read about such an interesting woman like Mary, Queent of Scots, nor would we learn--and remember--such detailed British history!!!!!
It reminds me of the time on The Andy Griffith Show when Andy had to backpedal and teach Opie and his friends how interesting history is and he proceeds to tell the story of the beginning of the American Revolution in such a way that the boys all went home and finished reading about the American Revolution in their history books, making them more than ready for the next day's lesson with Miss Crump!
If only we'd all realize how INTERESTING learning is in ALL areas!!!!!!!!
Monday, October 4, 2010
English 241.Pilgrim Characterization
Stephen is the author of the group. He is not someone readily noticed when looking at the group as a whole, but once noticed, he stands out as someone not likely to be forgotten. He is fairly short...at least, he's the shortest in our group of pilgrims. He is pudgy, but not necessarily fat. He is completely bald. He is forever pushing back up on his nose his overly large wire-rimmed tri-focals. His clothes are baggy and look as if he took them out of a dryer where they had stayed for at least a week after drying. The three items on his person that show any level of care are his very expensive white tennis shoes, a tiny, sterling-silver flask with a dragon super-imposed around the outside, carried in a tacky leather pouch hanging from his dingy belt, and the square, leather satchel with his initials engraved in gold on the front that he carries over his shoulder. And every time someone even speaks to him, he pulls one of his novels out of his satchel, autographs it, and graciously gives it to the speaker, with a huge humble grin,--saying, "That'll be $20, BTW."
Tuesday, September 28, 2010
"Don't forget to Blog! I won't remind you consistently throughout the semester, but I am reading them as I am able--and commenting. With the middle of the semester coming up in about 2 weeks, you should, technically, have 4 Blogs completed. Of course, I understand if you prefer saving your blogs for poetry or plays; just be careful that you don't forget about them and then have all 8 of your own and all 8 replies to do at once! Yikes!"
Sunday, September 26, 2010
HP....I have to say.....
Now that I've finished reading all 7 of the Harry Potter books, I am watching the movies. The first two weren't too bad. They could have been better, but overall, I quite enjoyed them. There's obviously NO WAY to follow the whole book in each movie; the movies would be too long, even for the most avid HP reader who would willingly sit through each movie, no matter how long it is!!!
The 4th movie isn't half bad. I feel that the transitions between scenes are awfully abrupt rather than smooth and flowing in a manner that makes sense to anyone who hasn't read the book.
The 3rd movie needs to be dumped in the trash, burned, and returned. What a resounding piece of C-R-A-P. That is NOT how Rowling describes Lupin as a werewolf. UGH! The movie as a whole was just plain AWFUL! Maybe it's because The Prisoner of Azkaban is one of my favorites in the series that I feel the movie version of the story falls WAAAAAAAAYYYYYYY short.....maybe it's been too soon since I read book 3 to watch the movie.......Whatever the reason is, I am SORELY disappointed in the 3rd movie. What makes it even worse is that there's no way to go back and make it right because the characters who play Harry, Ron, Hermoine, etc. are now too old and there's no way to make them look 13 again. They already look older than 13 in this movie......I couldn't even enjoy Hermoine punching Malfoy in the face!!!! Granted, that's a scene that would be difficult to ruin no matter what, but because the whole movie is just a horrible piece of screen-work, even that scene doesn't provide the sense of satisfaction that it should!!!! Thank goodness we don't have any of THE greatest scenes of the story in book 3--like Ron and Hermoine finally kissing!!!!
Soooooooo disappointing...........it made me REALLY ANGRY that the 3rd movie is SOOOOOOOO very BAAAAAAAAAAAAADDDDDDD........
I've only gotten as far as the 4th movie......I'll watch the 4th one again, but NOT #3!!!!!! Hopefully, I'll have the next 2 to watch soon.........
The 4th movie isn't half bad. I feel that the transitions between scenes are awfully abrupt rather than smooth and flowing in a manner that makes sense to anyone who hasn't read the book.
The 3rd movie needs to be dumped in the trash, burned, and returned. What a resounding piece of C-R-A-P. That is NOT how Rowling describes Lupin as a werewolf. UGH! The movie as a whole was just plain AWFUL! Maybe it's because The Prisoner of Azkaban is one of my favorites in the series that I feel the movie version of the story falls WAAAAAAAAYYYYYYY short.....maybe it's been too soon since I read book 3 to watch the movie.......Whatever the reason is, I am SORELY disappointed in the 3rd movie. What makes it even worse is that there's no way to go back and make it right because the characters who play Harry, Ron, Hermoine, etc. are now too old and there's no way to make them look 13 again. They already look older than 13 in this movie......I couldn't even enjoy Hermoine punching Malfoy in the face!!!! Granted, that's a scene that would be difficult to ruin no matter what, but because the whole movie is just a horrible piece of screen-work, even that scene doesn't provide the sense of satisfaction that it should!!!! Thank goodness we don't have any of THE greatest scenes of the story in book 3--like Ron and Hermoine finally kissing!!!!
Soooooooo disappointing...........it made me REALLY ANGRY that the 3rd movie is SOOOOOOOO very BAAAAAAAAAAAAADDDDDDD........
I've only gotten as far as the 4th movie......I'll watch the 4th one again, but NOT #3!!!!!! Hopefully, I'll have the next 2 to watch soon.........
Leaders in Literature.British Lit.
In my British Lit. classes, we have been talking about good/bad leaders. In particular, we have been discussing Beowulf, the man, and King Arthur. In one of my two British Lit. classes, we even watched the movie 300, so King Leonidas was included in the discussion of good/bad leaders, as well. I think we've had some great discussions on what makes each of these men good, even great, leaders, but also what their "tragic flaws" are. (Of course, most of us feel that Beowulf doesn't't really have the qualities of a good leader because he was just TOO boastful/proud, full of himself.)
In talking about these men and their leadership qualities, I can't help thinking about some other "great" leaders in literature and what connects them to the men we've already discussed. One of the things that stands out to me is the fact that some of these leaders became leaders not because they were born leaders or born into the position of leadership, but because of their accomplishments and/or attributes that made them [great] leaders. In the older Arthurian myths, Arthur was seen as a [great] leader from childhood on, but in many stories that a lot of us are very familiar with, Arthur was a scrawny, wimpy kid who somehow or another pulls the sword, Excalibur, from the stone when men 10 times his size, weight, and strength are unable to. Over the years following his pulling the sword from the stone, Arthur proves himself and ultimately becomes one of the greatest kings England has ever had--according to myth, of course.
In the newer stories that we watched/talked about in class, Arthur has all the qualities of a great leader even from childhood. People naturally listen to him and are naturally drawn to him. He is very charismatic and is willing to put himself in any and every situation that his own knights put themselves in. He is even angry at the end of the new King Arthur movie when 2 of his knights die, yet he somehow survives a battle that should have ended in all their deaths.
As someone looking in and watching, I would love to have someone in charge like the Arthur myths, whether we're talking about the old Arthurian myths or the newer stories that many of us are just becoming aware of because of recent movies/stories that are becoming more prominent in literature.
I honestly love/respect a man (or woman!) who doesn't run from a battle just because he/she is the leader and is supposed to be protected at all costs. Everyone knows that when the leader goes down, the battle is won--by the other side. What's that line in the movie Sahara where Matthew McConaughey's character says something about how they need to kill the snake....? So when a leader willingly goes in to battle with his/her troops, it's a dangerous thing to do because if he/she is killed, then the battle is won....by the other side.
But over and over and over again throughout literature, we see/hear stories of great leaders who are in the throes of battle: King Leonidas (300), Harrison Ford's character as the president of the US in Air Force One (I LOVE that movie and his character in that story!), Bill Pullman's character as the president of the US in the movie Independence Day (another GREAT movie with a great president I would have voted for!), and, I know you're getting sick and tired of my references to it, but Harry in Harry Potter.
Of course, as I mentioned before, Harry, as a Christ-like figure, willingly lays down his life for the sake of his friends, family, and fellow wizards/witches. He is not in the throes of the fight during the last book, but he is working behind the scenes so that when he does face his enemy, Tom Riddle (see my previous blogs as to why I'm calling him that rather than by the name you might be familiar with), he has everything he needs in order to truly defeat Riddle. If he hadn't looked for and destroyed some of the horcruxes, he would not have been able to defeat Tom even in this story and the story would have gone on. As long as there was a possibility of Tom's soul still surviving, there was no way to effectively kill him and defeat him completely.
So once Harry has everything he needs, he meets Tom Riddle face-to-face. As the last horcrux, Riddle's soul in Harry has to die so that when Harry deals the final death blow, Riddle truly dies. What a very scary thing for a boy not even 17 years old to have to face. Sure, in the previous 6 books, Harry faces terrors that no child of any age should have to face, so what's this new one after all the others? But still....to know that he has to die in order to defeat the enemy and to walk straight up to the one who would kill him, knowing that he would not walk away is one of the bravest things I've ever seen.
Leaders who are willing to give their lives for the sake of others are leaders I can respect.....leaders I want to follow.....the type of leader I hope to be if it would ever come to that........
(I honestly could go on and on and on about this particular subject, but I do believe that this is getting too long and that you've gotten my point with what is here.....!)
In talking about these men and their leadership qualities, I can't help thinking about some other "great" leaders in literature and what connects them to the men we've already discussed. One of the things that stands out to me is the fact that some of these leaders became leaders not because they were born leaders or born into the position of leadership, but because of their accomplishments and/or attributes that made them [great] leaders. In the older Arthurian myths, Arthur was seen as a [great] leader from childhood on, but in many stories that a lot of us are very familiar with, Arthur was a scrawny, wimpy kid who somehow or another pulls the sword, Excalibur, from the stone when men 10 times his size, weight, and strength are unable to. Over the years following his pulling the sword from the stone, Arthur proves himself and ultimately becomes one of the greatest kings England has ever had--according to myth, of course.
In the newer stories that we watched/talked about in class, Arthur has all the qualities of a great leader even from childhood. People naturally listen to him and are naturally drawn to him. He is very charismatic and is willing to put himself in any and every situation that his own knights put themselves in. He is even angry at the end of the new King Arthur movie when 2 of his knights die, yet he somehow survives a battle that should have ended in all their deaths.
As someone looking in and watching, I would love to have someone in charge like the Arthur myths, whether we're talking about the old Arthurian myths or the newer stories that many of us are just becoming aware of because of recent movies/stories that are becoming more prominent in literature.
I honestly love/respect a man (or woman!) who doesn't run from a battle just because he/she is the leader and is supposed to be protected at all costs. Everyone knows that when the leader goes down, the battle is won--by the other side. What's that line in the movie Sahara where Matthew McConaughey's character says something about how they need to kill the snake....? So when a leader willingly goes in to battle with his/her troops, it's a dangerous thing to do because if he/she is killed, then the battle is won....by the other side.
But over and over and over again throughout literature, we see/hear stories of great leaders who are in the throes of battle: King Leonidas (300), Harrison Ford's character as the president of the US in Air Force One (I LOVE that movie and his character in that story!), Bill Pullman's character as the president of the US in the movie Independence Day (another GREAT movie with a great president I would have voted for!), and, I know you're getting sick and tired of my references to it, but Harry in Harry Potter.
Of course, as I mentioned before, Harry, as a Christ-like figure, willingly lays down his life for the sake of his friends, family, and fellow wizards/witches. He is not in the throes of the fight during the last book, but he is working behind the scenes so that when he does face his enemy, Tom Riddle (see my previous blogs as to why I'm calling him that rather than by the name you might be familiar with), he has everything he needs in order to truly defeat Riddle. If he hadn't looked for and destroyed some of the horcruxes, he would not have been able to defeat Tom even in this story and the story would have gone on. As long as there was a possibility of Tom's soul still surviving, there was no way to effectively kill him and defeat him completely.
So once Harry has everything he needs, he meets Tom Riddle face-to-face. As the last horcrux, Riddle's soul in Harry has to die so that when Harry deals the final death blow, Riddle truly dies. What a very scary thing for a boy not even 17 years old to have to face. Sure, in the previous 6 books, Harry faces terrors that no child of any age should have to face, so what's this new one after all the others? But still....to know that he has to die in order to defeat the enemy and to walk straight up to the one who would kill him, knowing that he would not walk away is one of the bravest things I've ever seen.
Leaders who are willing to give their lives for the sake of others are leaders I can respect.....leaders I want to follow.....the type of leader I hope to be if it would ever come to that........
(I honestly could go on and on and on about this particular subject, but I do believe that this is getting too long and that you've gotten my point with what is here.....!)
Sunday, September 19, 2010
New Book.DRACULA IN LOVE
I'm a member of one of those Book Clubs where you buy so many books for 99 cents, and then get one free, and so on. When I received their email a few weeks ago announcing new releases, one of them was a book called Dracula in Love. Of course, I was immediately intrigued. I LOVE Dracula by Bram Stoker! (The book, not the movie.) Over the summer, I read the so-called "sequel" to Dracula called Dracula: The Undead by the great-great grand-nephew of Bram Stoker (I don't know how many "greats"). It was pretty good. It explored the possibility that there was more going on between the Count and Mina and it brings in one of my favorite historical figures, the Countess Bathory! This book has the theory that the Countess was actually Jack-the-Ripper. Very fascinating!
Anyway, this new book, Dracula in Love focuses on the idea that the Count and Mina were actually in love and that they'd met long before Mina was involved with Jonathan. There's the strong suggestion that Mina is the reincarnation of the Count's "old" love. Of course, this is exactly the idea that the movie version Bram Stoker's Dracula explores. This book just takes it to a deeper level, focuses on the Count and Mina, and tells the story through Mina's eyes....as she truly is rather than as the virginal purist Bram Stoker portrays her to be in his novel.
I must say that even though I haven't even gotten through a hundred pages, not even 50 pages, the read is quite interesting. I'm looking forward to finishing it! I've always thought, even before the movie or other stories were made available, that there was more going on between Mina and the Count than met the eye!!!
BTW: yes, I'm still finishing with re-reading the Harry Potter series while I'm reading Dracula in Love. I usually read 3 or 4 books at once. It keeps me on my toes!!!!
Anyway, this new book, Dracula in Love focuses on the idea that the Count and Mina were actually in love and that they'd met long before Mina was involved with Jonathan. There's the strong suggestion that Mina is the reincarnation of the Count's "old" love. Of course, this is exactly the idea that the movie version Bram Stoker's Dracula explores. This book just takes it to a deeper level, focuses on the Count and Mina, and tells the story through Mina's eyes....as she truly is rather than as the virginal purist Bram Stoker portrays her to be in his novel.
I must say that even though I haven't even gotten through a hundred pages, not even 50 pages, the read is quite interesting. I'm looking forward to finishing it! I've always thought, even before the movie or other stories were made available, that there was more going on between Mina and the Count than met the eye!!!
BTW: yes, I'm still finishing with re-reading the Harry Potter series while I'm reading Dracula in Love. I usually read 3 or 4 books at once. It keeps me on my toes!!!!
Tuesday, September 14, 2010
HARRY POTTER....I can't help it!
I'm re-reading the whole Harry Potter series. I'm currently on Book 4 and thoroughly enjoying reading the series again. I especially like the fact that I'm reading it a second time almost as soon as I finished it the first time. There's so much I missed. I'm finding that it feels as if I'm reading it for the first time because of all the details that are jumping off the page at me now.
But I am finding myself marking a consistent grammar error throughout the series that is really starting to drive me absolutely insane!!! Rowling misuses singular indefinite pronouns and their modifiers!!! It's driving me crazy! I could have let it slide with the first 2 books, but the deeper the series goes, the worse it gets! After getting the feel of things and knowing her series was well received and well loved.......considering the fact that Rowling is BRITISH--the British are famous for being strict grammarians!!!.....after having editors read through the series....and what about the screenwriters who use the incorrect singular indefinite pronouns?!
Now, maybe, just maybe, in the true English (British, I mean) translation, Rowling uses singular indefinite pronouns correctly and it's actually the American translation (we all know that there IS a vast different between the book released and read in England and the book released and read in the US) that is making the mistakes. Regardless of the excuse, there is NO excuse!!!!! It's one thing if the kids in the story use the pronouns incorrectly, but to have PROFESSOR MCGONNAGAL use singular indefinite pronouns incorrectly in simply inexcusable!!!!!!!
But I am finding myself marking a consistent grammar error throughout the series that is really starting to drive me absolutely insane!!! Rowling misuses singular indefinite pronouns and their modifiers!!! It's driving me crazy! I could have let it slide with the first 2 books, but the deeper the series goes, the worse it gets! After getting the feel of things and knowing her series was well received and well loved.......considering the fact that Rowling is BRITISH--the British are famous for being strict grammarians!!!.....after having editors read through the series....and what about the screenwriters who use the incorrect singular indefinite pronouns?!
Now, maybe, just maybe, in the true English (British, I mean) translation, Rowling uses singular indefinite pronouns correctly and it's actually the American translation (we all know that there IS a vast different between the book released and read in England and the book released and read in the US) that is making the mistakes. Regardless of the excuse, there is NO excuse!!!!! It's one thing if the kids in the story use the pronouns incorrectly, but to have PROFESSOR MCGONNAGAL use singular indefinite pronouns incorrectly in simply inexcusable!!!!!!!
Myths of King Arthur.English 241
In my Tuesday/Thursday British Lit. class, we talked quite a bit about the myths of the legend of King Arthur, in particular how vast those myths are. Most of the stories have enough similarities to have created the wonderful legend that is King Arthur, but in every story, there's something different--which should remind any audience that regardless of the consistencies, it's the inconsistensies that make King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table LEGEND, not reality.
So if King Arthur wasn't real, why is he mentioned in even factual, reputable history books? Someone today said, as we saw the movie we watched in class, that "everyone needs a hero." The truth is that the King Arthur legend is a wonderful story about a geeky kid who pulls a sword out of a stone when all the strong men of England are unable to and then he grows up to a King full of wisdom, who ends up in a tragic marriage, and has a tragic ending to his life. (The beginning of his life wasn't a picnic, either!) In spite of the odds stacked against him, Arthur rises above and even shines. What's not to love about the stories of King Arthur?! Great swords.....tragic love triangle.....best friends.....betrayal of best friends......magicians.....sword fighting.....knights.....code of chivalry......and on and on and on!!!!!
I know there's only a teeny, tiny blurb about King Arthur that we read (we didn't choose La Morte D'Arthur), but it's just too fascinating to walk away from without more......
I'm including links to several interesting web sites I found in case you'd like to read more about the legends of King Arthur. This is not a complete list. It is interesting to note the similarities as well as the differences between the different "authoritative" web sites on King Arthur! These are probably not even the best, but in doing a quick Google search, they are the ones I've found. I might include more later, but these are the ones I found for this posting.
http://www.timelessmyths.com/arthurian/arthur.html
http://www.britannia.com/history/arthur/kamyth.html
http://www.pbs.org/mythsandheroes/myths_four_arthur.html
http://www.legendofkingarthur.co.uk/
http://www.loggia.com/myth/arthur.html
http://www.angelfire.com/planet/mythguide/king_arthur.html
http://www.caerleon.net/history/arthur/page2.htm
Enjoy as many of the web sites as you choose. I just think it's absolutely fascinating and thought I'd make it a little easier on you in case you wanted to read more about King Arthur! I can't wait to get to Sir Gawain and the Green Knight!
So if King Arthur wasn't real, why is he mentioned in even factual, reputable history books? Someone today said, as we saw the movie we watched in class, that "everyone needs a hero." The truth is that the King Arthur legend is a wonderful story about a geeky kid who pulls a sword out of a stone when all the strong men of England are unable to and then he grows up to a King full of wisdom, who ends up in a tragic marriage, and has a tragic ending to his life. (The beginning of his life wasn't a picnic, either!) In spite of the odds stacked against him, Arthur rises above and even shines. What's not to love about the stories of King Arthur?! Great swords.....tragic love triangle.....best friends.....betrayal of best friends......magicians.....sword fighting.....knights.....code of chivalry......and on and on and on!!!!!
I know there's only a teeny, tiny blurb about King Arthur that we read (we didn't choose La Morte D'Arthur), but it's just too fascinating to walk away from without more......
I'm including links to several interesting web sites I found in case you'd like to read more about the legends of King Arthur. This is not a complete list. It is interesting to note the similarities as well as the differences between the different "authoritative" web sites on King Arthur! These are probably not even the best, but in doing a quick Google search, they are the ones I've found. I might include more later, but these are the ones I found for this posting.
http://www.timelessmyths.com/arthurian/arthur.html
http://www.britannia.com/history/arthur/kamyth.html
http://www.pbs.org/mythsandheroes/myths_four_arthur.html
http://www.legendofkingarthur.co.uk/
http://www.loggia.com/myth/arthur.html
http://www.angelfire.com/planet/mythguide/king_arthur.html
http://www.caerleon.net/history/arthur/page2.htm
Enjoy as many of the web sites as you choose. I just think it's absolutely fascinating and thought I'd make it a little easier on you in case you wanted to read more about King Arthur! I can't wait to get to Sir Gawain and the Green Knight!
Wednesday, September 1, 2010
English 241.BEOWULF
I have now read Beowulf more times than I can count, but I can honestly say that I find something new to enjoy about the story every single time I read it! I've always paid attention to the kennings in the story, but I've never taken the time before this reading to actually mark them all as I go through. This time, I've been marking them as I see them. There are a LOT! I think it would be fun to write a story where I use my own made-up kennings throughout the whole thing....
I realize that the language of Beowulf makes it a challenge to read, but personally, that's what I love about the story. I get easily bored when it comes to reading in spite of the fact that I love to read and will read just about anything I can get my hands on. I love it when I read a book that has action, adventure, suspense, and maybe even just a little romance thrown in. This story has it all!
Of course, Beowulf the man always ticks me off with all his boasting. But it's difficult to dislike him completely. At the heart of it, he is only telling the truth and a large portion of his boastings are in response to someone else challenging him and he's simply responding--with the truth. But still....no one can be THAT perfect! (I probably dislike him as much as i do because I see myself in him! LOL!)
I realize that the language of Beowulf makes it a challenge to read, but personally, that's what I love about the story. I get easily bored when it comes to reading in spite of the fact that I love to read and will read just about anything I can get my hands on. I love it when I read a book that has action, adventure, suspense, and maybe even just a little romance thrown in. This story has it all!
Of course, Beowulf the man always ticks me off with all his boasting. But it's difficult to dislike him completely. At the heart of it, he is only telling the truth and a large portion of his boastings are in response to someone else challenging him and he's simply responding--with the truth. But still....no one can be THAT perfect! (I probably dislike him as much as i do because I see myself in him! LOL!)
Sunday, August 29, 2010
One more comment on HARRY POTTER
I don't know about you, but I thoroughly enjoyed the theme of friendship throughout the whole series. The only thing that bothered me a little was just how exclusive Harry, Ron, and Hermoine were. At the same time, though, there can't be TOO many heroes. In spite of the fact that the three of them were tight as a pair of skinny jeans on fat girl, they still considered others their friends. As I mentioned previously, I cried my way through Deathly Hallows. One scene in particular that really shook me up (outside of those who died) is the scene where they've gone to visit Luna's dad, Xenophilius. Harry explores Luna's room upstairs where he finds the faces of himself, Ron, Hermoine, Neville, and Ginny painted on Luna's ceiling with beautiful, gold lettering across all the paintings: FRIENDS. That was so very moving. It really showed that Harry wasn't in this battle with Tom Riddle (I refuse to give him more power by referring to him by his assumed name) alone--or with just Ron & Hermoine.
Of course, it tore me to pieces when Ron and Harry fought and Ron left for awhile. I didn't know if I was going to be able to continue reading at that point, I was crying so hard. I knew he'd regret leaving and I knew the horcurx he was wearing was making Ron's emotions boil beyond the bursting point, but that didn't make it any easier when he left.
And, yes, I bawled like a big ole baby when Ron came back....in a big way--saving Harry's life and getting the Sword of Gryffindor in the process!!!! I always knew Ron had so much more spirit, life, and heroism than he gave himself credit for. It was so emotional to learn that he always felt "less than" around Harry, in spite of Harry's attempts to let Ron be himself. Look at everything Harry went through for the Quidditch match to make sure Ron felt confident!
It's Harry's love for his friends (who truly are his family) that holds this whole story together and makes it the AMAZING story/series that it is. Sure, the magic is fun and really cool. The whole plot wherein Harry has to defeat the "bad guy" keeps the story running and interesting. But the real glue that gives the story its true heart and soul are the friendships. It is amazing how swiftly and easily bonds of friendships are made. From the very first, Ron's mom welcomed Harry into her brood as one of her own--she always treated Harry as a son and never doubted even for a second anything Harry ever did or said, even when it looked like Harry might have been the one to have actually hurt Arthur Weasley.
I just wanted to say that I found the FRIENDSHIPS throughout the Harry Potter series absolutely beautiful and the best part of the read.
Of course, it tore me to pieces when Ron and Harry fought and Ron left for awhile. I didn't know if I was going to be able to continue reading at that point, I was crying so hard. I knew he'd regret leaving and I knew the horcurx he was wearing was making Ron's emotions boil beyond the bursting point, but that didn't make it any easier when he left.
And, yes, I bawled like a big ole baby when Ron came back....in a big way--saving Harry's life and getting the Sword of Gryffindor in the process!!!! I always knew Ron had so much more spirit, life, and heroism than he gave himself credit for. It was so emotional to learn that he always felt "less than" around Harry, in spite of Harry's attempts to let Ron be himself. Look at everything Harry went through for the Quidditch match to make sure Ron felt confident!
It's Harry's love for his friends (who truly are his family) that holds this whole story together and makes it the AMAZING story/series that it is. Sure, the magic is fun and really cool. The whole plot wherein Harry has to defeat the "bad guy" keeps the story running and interesting. But the real glue that gives the story its true heart and soul are the friendships. It is amazing how swiftly and easily bonds of friendships are made. From the very first, Ron's mom welcomed Harry into her brood as one of her own--she always treated Harry as a son and never doubted even for a second anything Harry ever did or said, even when it looked like Harry might have been the one to have actually hurt Arthur Weasley.
I just wanted to say that I found the FRIENDSHIPS throughout the Harry Potter series absolutely beautiful and the best part of the read.
English 111.Writing Process
After writing about my scrapbooking process in as much detail as I did, this one isn't going to be nearly as long. The plain and simple truth is that I do many things with similar processes. I tend to cook with a similar process as scrapbooking and writing, too. What I mean is that I like to plan, to think it through before I ever begin. I like to have an idea of where I'm going with my writing before I ever put the first word to paper (or typing on the cmputer, which has reccently become my preferred method of writing). When I have thought things through to my heart's content based on my time limit, I'll get everything ready and be sure I have everything I need, including my flash drive or internet connections depending on whether I'm saving the work to a Word document or Blogging/journling online. Oh, and don't forget a glass of Coke! Then, I go to to the program I'm going to be using on the computer and I start typing. I type the whole thing out as fast as I can without worrying too much about grammar, spelling, and punctuation. Once I have the whole thing typed, then I'll go back and read through it, making any appropriate changes as needed. Sometimes I'll share it with others before I post blogs or do anything with my other writings, if I have a chance or feel it necessary with what I'm working with. Then I'll post it and share it with others.
English 111.Favorite Genre
It is very true that I love a very large variety of types of movies (and books, too). I'll watch (and read) just about anything. That doesn't mean that I like it ALL, but I do at least try. My least favorite type of movies are horror--true horror where it's essentially a lot of screaming, blood, guts, and gore....with naked people (girls) running into the bathroom. Those types of movies, to me, are nothing but gratuituous violence.
Anyway, this is supposed to be about my favorite type of movies, not my least favorite. I guess when I get right down to it, my true favorite movie genre are musicals. I know that not everyone enjoys musicals, but I, personally, love it when the characters break into song suddenly and without preamble! Ewan McGregor talks about it in the extras to Moulin Rouge when he says that we hear the story on a higher emotional level than we do when we just hear the spoken word. That is so very true for me. I am deeply moved by music in general. It can pick me up or match my low mood.
Musicals are just fun! Singing is fun! Have you ever just felt a song ready to burst out of you--and you followed through and let it?! I don't have a very good voice (my brother, sister, and mom got the voice talents in my family), but I DO love to sing. When I sing, I feel it not just in my voice; I feel the song from the top of my head all the way down to my toes! It's just so much for fun going through life with a song in my step than going through life living as if any second is going to be my last. I've lived like that before; I know what it's like and it's AWFUL. Singing my way through my life is definitely fun.....!!!
My favorite musical? That's hard....I LOVE The Phantom of the Opera. It's especially awesome since my son told me a week or so ago that it's his favorite movie! He enjoys singing the theme song from it, too! I love Moulin Rouge. It's the DVD that's usually playing while I'm grading papers. I just like having it on in the background when I'm grading. Yentl is another AMAZING movie! I love Babs and Mandy Patinkin in that movie!!!! ''Papa can you hear me? Papa, watch me fly!" And who doesn't love the music that's always a part of every [great] Disney movie?!
Anyway, this is supposed to be about my favorite type of movies, not my least favorite. I guess when I get right down to it, my true favorite movie genre are musicals. I know that not everyone enjoys musicals, but I, personally, love it when the characters break into song suddenly and without preamble! Ewan McGregor talks about it in the extras to Moulin Rouge when he says that we hear the story on a higher emotional level than we do when we just hear the spoken word. That is so very true for me. I am deeply moved by music in general. It can pick me up or match my low mood.
Musicals are just fun! Singing is fun! Have you ever just felt a song ready to burst out of you--and you followed through and let it?! I don't have a very good voice (my brother, sister, and mom got the voice talents in my family), but I DO love to sing. When I sing, I feel it not just in my voice; I feel the song from the top of my head all the way down to my toes! It's just so much for fun going through life with a song in my step than going through life living as if any second is going to be my last. I've lived like that before; I know what it's like and it's AWFUL. Singing my way through my life is definitely fun.....!!!
My favorite musical? That's hard....I LOVE The Phantom of the Opera. It's especially awesome since my son told me a week or so ago that it's his favorite movie! He enjoys singing the theme song from it, too! I love Moulin Rouge. It's the DVD that's usually playing while I'm grading papers. I just like having it on in the background when I'm grading. Yentl is another AMAZING movie! I love Babs and Mandy Patinkin in that movie!!!! ''Papa can you hear me? Papa, watch me fly!" And who doesn't love the music that's always a part of every [great] Disney movie?!
Saturday, August 28, 2010
I have finished HARRY POTTER
I can't believe it. I've finished all 7 Harry Potter books. I feel as if I've had to say good-bye and move away from some of my very best friends. I miss Harry, Ron, Hermoine, Ginny, et. al. Honestly, the way I read through the series from beginning to end, I didn't think I'd remember the names or the details as well as I do. I might not remember exactly which book book certain events took place, but I do remember more than I thought I would. It's honestly as if the whole series is one book--in my head--rather than 7 separate books.
Anyway, I was right....I didn't blog about this, but for years, I have been saying this about the series so those of you who talked about Harry Potter with me before I actually read it, you know I was right....that Harry, in dying and "coming back to life," became a Christ-figure. You can argue all you want to that it isn't true, but Harry walks into those woods with the specific intention to be killed by Tom Riddle (I don't want to give him the power he thought he deserved) in order to save his friends/family. Yes, he knew it was meant to be--in order to defeath Riddle, he, Harry, HAD to die, but Harry knew it was the only way to save his friends. Later, when it's the REAL show-down between him and Riddle, he tells Riddle that the evil spells can't touch Harry's friends because his sacrifice (his death) was for them--they're all covered by Harry's LOVE!
That's EXACTLY the reason Christ died--for LOVE!!!!
Regardless, it doesn't take away from the fact that the whole Harry Potter series is definitely worth the read. I enjoyed every minute of it. I know I'll read it again and again and again! Samuel and I watched the first movie together the other night and he loved it. I'm hoping he'll read it!
BTW: I was right about Snape, too! Told ya! And I hadn't been told that in advance nor had anyone ever told me! Personally, I wonder if others just didn't care about Snape as much as I do! I knew that he would die for Harry. I just thought that it would be more dramatic, like throwing himself in front of Harry to save him or something like that. Of course, getting bitten by Nagini and dying a relatively slow and painful death was certainly dramatic--it just wasn't what I expected.
One final thought before I stop for today: the Patronosus. I get that Harry's stag was representative of his own dad. I also get that Snape's was a doe, just like Lily's had been. But why is Hermoine's an otter? And what was Ron's? What do they represent???? What exactly is the symbolism/the deeper meanings of the patronuses? I think there's more to them than what I'm understanding. I get that they're powerful and protective--even warm, especially as far as Harry's is concerned, but there's got to be more to them than that. What exactly makes Harry's patronus so much more powerful than Ron's or Hermoine's?
The root word is "patron"--in The Phantom of the Opera, Raul is the patron who comes in to provide for the theater financially. I'm pretty sure patron also can mean Protector. I looked up patron on dictionary.com:
![]()
n] 
Show IPA
Anyway, I was right....I didn't blog about this, but for years, I have been saying this about the series so those of you who talked about Harry Potter with me before I actually read it, you know I was right....that Harry, in dying and "coming back to life," became a Christ-figure. You can argue all you want to that it isn't true, but Harry walks into those woods with the specific intention to be killed by Tom Riddle (I don't want to give him the power he thought he deserved) in order to save his friends/family. Yes, he knew it was meant to be--in order to defeath Riddle, he, Harry, HAD to die, but Harry knew it was the only way to save his friends. Later, when it's the REAL show-down between him and Riddle, he tells Riddle that the evil spells can't touch Harry's friends because his sacrifice (his death) was for them--they're all covered by Harry's LOVE!
That's EXACTLY the reason Christ died--for LOVE!!!!
Regardless, it doesn't take away from the fact that the whole Harry Potter series is definitely worth the read. I enjoyed every minute of it. I know I'll read it again and again and again! Samuel and I watched the first movie together the other night and he loved it. I'm hoping he'll read it!
BTW: I was right about Snape, too! Told ya! And I hadn't been told that in advance nor had anyone ever told me! Personally, I wonder if others just didn't care about Snape as much as I do! I knew that he would die for Harry. I just thought that it would be more dramatic, like throwing himself in front of Harry to save him or something like that. Of course, getting bitten by Nagini and dying a relatively slow and painful death was certainly dramatic--it just wasn't what I expected.
One final thought before I stop for today: the Patronosus. I get that Harry's stag was representative of his own dad. I also get that Snape's was a doe, just like Lily's had been. But why is Hermoine's an otter? And what was Ron's? What do they represent???? What exactly is the symbolism/the deeper meanings of the patronuses? I think there's more to them than what I'm understanding. I get that they're powerful and protective--even warm, especially as far as Harry's is concerned, but there's got to be more to them than that. What exactly makes Harry's patronus so much more powerful than Ron's or Hermoine's?
The root word is "patron"--in The Phantom of the Opera, Raul is the patron who comes in to provide for the theater financially. I'm pretty sure patron also can mean Protector. I looked up patron on dictionary.com:
pa·tron
[pey-truhn] Show IPA –noun
1.
a person who is a customer, client, or paying guest, esp. a regular one, of a store, hotel, or the like.
2.
a person who supports with money, gifts, efforts, or endorsement an artist, writer, museum, cause, charity, institution, special event, or the like: a patron of the arts; patrons of the annual Democratic dance.
3.
a person whose support or protection is solicited or acknowledged by the dedication of a book or other work.
5.
Roman History . the protector of a dependent or client, often the former master of a freedman still retaining certain rights over him.
6.
Ecclesiastical . a person who has the right of presenting a member of the clergy to a benefice.
|
| patron 1 (ˈpeɪtrən) | |||||||
| — n | |||||||
| 1. | a person, esp a man, who sponsors or aids artists, charities, etc; protector or benefactor | ||||||
| 2. | a customer of a shop, hotel, etc, esp a regular one | ||||||
| 3. | See patron saint | ||||||
| 4. | (in ancient Rome) the protector of a dependant or client, often the former master of a freedman still retaining certain rights over him | ||||||
| 5. | Christianity a person or body having the right to present a clergyman to a benefice | ||||||
| [C14: via Old French from Latin patrōnus protector, from pater father] | |||||||
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