January News

 

That banner is so cute : ) Can you believe it's been 7 years since that movie came out??? Wow! I was like 15! I really hope they continue the Narnia series. Now that Harry Potter is done, people still need a fantasy to look forward to every year.

Well...The Hobbit, I believe is coming out this year and I can't wait to see that!!! Supposedly most of the original Lord of The Rings characters are going to making cameo appearances throughout the movie (more like movies since it's split in two films). That would be awesome. Last year was also the 10th anniversary of when LOTR premiered, so I would have been...11. Long long time ago.

I actually tried reading the Hobbit, but as great of a writer as Tolkien was...I really have a hard time understanding him. Maybe it's just because I'm a 'modern day reader' as I like to call myself or someone who doesn't necessarily like to read 'the classics.' I have never read Jane Austin, Louisa May Alcott, Charles Dickens, Tolkien, and whoever else old fashioned readers seem to admire.

I'm the type of reader one might call 'I never read the book, but I did see a Wishbone about it.' You know that old PBS show about the cute jack russell dog that narrated the show and gave a simple 30 min. version of all the great classics. I loved that show! Too bad it was cancelled, but I was able to get the general gist of classics like Robin Hood (that episode was a particular favorite), Pride and Prejudice, The Count of Monte Cristo, The Black Arrow, The Three Musketeers, The Hunchback of Notre Dame, The Odyssey, Great Expectations, several African and Mexican legends, and a lot more.

Ok, I'll admit...I am trying to get through Jane Eyre and it's good, but like I said, I have a rather short attention span when it comes to reading 'the classics'. From what I have read from Jane Eyre, I have come to the conclusion that I really admire Jane herself. She's real, not too good to be true or damsel in distress. She's been through pain and heartache, and she's kind and strong, but still maintains a very sweet and feminine essence. A very rare, but incredible combination to be found in a female literary character in that time period.

I have also seen a couple of Jane Eyre movies (there's like 20 adaptions of that story) and I think the best so far was from Masterpiece Theater's 2006 mini-series with Georgie Henley playing young Jane. It was very good and thrilling, never a dull moment. Also the 1970 movie with Susannah York and George C. Scott that is quite old (school), but still well done. Susannah York was so pretty too : )

By the way, I have become obsessed with Downton Abbey!!! I watched the two hour premiere with my mom on Sunday and I could not move! That is such a great show and I'm so in love with Matthew Crawley; so kind, strong and honorable...and he's not that hard to look at...Anyway, back to reality : )

The three Crawley sisters remind me a lot of the the Bennett sisters from Pride and Prejudice, they're fun, lively, and very generous. Sybil, the youngest, is my favorite. The adored princess, who is by no means spoiled or selfish.

I've had a harder time adjusting to Mary and Edith. I haven't seen all of the first season, but Mary's general wild attitude normally doesn't sit well with me, especially when it could come to bringing her family to ruin, and Edith just comes off as selfish and conniving. Now two years later in the second season in the midst of WWI, both have seemed to grow up and act respectably.

I can't wait till next Sunday!!!

(Mary PLEASE tell Matthew you love him!!!)

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My life in general around the house has been pretty boring. I like to help with the soap business, but a lot of the work tends to get very monotonous. Although, I am working as a mother's helper for two moms and I have really enjoyed it. 

One is a stay-at-home mom who has five children and I work for her two times a month. The other is a teacher with two children who needs me there to watch her twelve year old daughter and eight year old son Mon. and Wed. afternoons until she or her husband get home from work. Both jobs I love and thankfully the children like me, which makes a lot easier.

I've made some good money from working too. Enough that I've been able to get a bank account and start building up a fund. So needless to say that has been great!!! So maybe this stay at home daughter idea hasn't been as bad as I thought.

I swore I would never go back into childcare after working at a daycare for two years, but I guess my life is in childcare. A mother's helper though has been much more rewarding. I'm glad that people actually appreciate what I do and not have to say it out of obligation. As a daycare teacher (I actually am a licensed teacher) there were so many strict rules that I was on pins and needles all the time and lived in fear that I would do or say something wrong.

I still tend to have that mentality. What if I don't this right? Should I have said that? I need to be doing a better job! It's hard, it really is; trying to relax and not worry all the time. It has gotten better and I'm beginning to liven up a bit more.

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Before I sign off, I was wondering if anyone has ever heard or seen of this show? (I don't know why I word it with 'everyone' seeing as people don't come to this site) I really, really want to see it! Critics have called it 'Camelot for adults' and from the movie stills that I've seen, it's probably true.

All the more reason to see it : )

They have a pretty interesting cast.

Joseph Fiennes as Merlin

Jamie Campbell Bower (Sweeney Todd, Twilight: New Moon/Breaking Dawn) as King Arthur

Eva Green (Casino Royale; Kingdom of Heaven) as Morgan LeFay.

There's only one season (10 episodes),  the (supposed) reason being they couldn't do a second one because of scheduling conflicts with their three leads. Sad. People said it's really good.

Oh well, I see if I can find it from DVD store or something like that. Quite often I'll buy a DVD without even seeing it and normally I end up loving it. I mean, my God, it has Joseph Fiennes and Jamie Campbell Bower as well as a bevy load of handsome knights, who wouldn't want to watch it?? : )

I'll write back soon!!!

~Ivy