Friday, December 28, 2018

Flashback Friday Post




In which I randomly select a yeara month and a post 
to look back upon


September 11, 2012


Stream of Consciousness #3


I'm a little late because my internet is slow, but I really, really wanted to do this one!!


Prompt: A little change in weather

Saying that there is a 'little change in weather here in Virginia is a bit of an understatement. The weather has changed dramitically!! First it's almost 100% one day and then down to 60% the next. I'm not complaining, it feels amazing!!!

We have had a brutal hot summer this year and so the cooler weather feels incredible! I love love love Fall time! It's definitely my favorite time of the year. It is so beautiful when the leaves starts changing different colors, like red, yellow, and brown. And theses colors aren't dull, they're bright! You can see them almost a mile away! It many ways, it almost looks like a painting when the leaves change colors and the sky becomes a paler blue. It's just beautiful.

For a couple years it actually snowed! Two years ago we had snow from Dec. to March, a rarity for Virginia, it didn't snow last year, but I am so hoping it will this year!

Tuesday, December 25, 2018

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas!

All out of darkness we have light
Which made the angels sing this night
Glory to God and peace to men
Now and forever more, Amen. 

~ Sussex Carol 

Sunday, December 23, 2018

Goodreads Reviews: Gypsy Magic



Gypsy Magic by Tonya Royston

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

After her mother gets a job promotion that relocates her to Russia, eighteen year old Gracyn Pierce leaves her home in Washington D.C. to attend her senior year of high school in the quaint town of Sedgewick, Massachusetts. It doesn't take long for Gracyn to find out that Sedgewick has a dark scandal regarding the murder of 12 year old Cassie Dumante, with her older brother, Lucien, being the supposed murderer.

This scandal has rocked the little town and its inhabitants for the last two years, but everyone is set on edge when Lucien returns to finish school. Although there wasn't enough evidence to convict him, all of Sedgewick are convinced that he is Cassie's murderer. However, Gracyn finds herself somewhat pulled toward him, in ways that seem unnatural.

However, Lucien Dumante is not the only unnatural worry in Gracyn's life. A terrible accident caused by Gracyn herself that left a man in a coma, odd phone calls and presents, a history teacher with ties to her family, her sister and brother in-law's secrets they try to keep from her and most of all, Gracyn's fear of horses that begins to dissipate when she meets Gypsy, a brilliant horse who becomes her friend and eventual protector.

All of this and more are bound to Gracyn, to Sedgewick and to the once unknown family past that goes beyond unnatural and reaches clear into the supernatural.

When I first started reading the book, I was somewhat disappointed when in less than 24 hours Gracyn just so happens to meet Alex, the best looking and most desired guy in town, who's in a band and is also really smart...and is totally interested in her! I found that to be too cliche and overdone and kind of a knockoff from Twilight (which I still secretly love...shhhhhh).

But that is really my only fault with the story.

The rest of Gypsy Magic I found to be rather intriguing! While Gracyn's self-deprecation got rather annoying from time to time, I loved her curiosity and her drive to know more about the Dumante murder and try to see Lucien in an unbiased light. The funky little town of Sedgewick boasts a myriad of equally funky townspeople that makes you wonder if normalcy is prevalent at all. I also appreciated that not all the questions were answered and what was answered barely scratched the surface.

It actually reminded me a great deal of Mystic Falls, Virginia from The Vampire Diaries of which I believe is a favorite show of the authors!

I also had the pleasure of meeting Tonya Royston and having her autograph my copy of the book! Her writing is simple and concise and she does a very good job at keeping the storyline and characters vague and from a distance. They don't come to you to be understood; you slowly come to them. And the ending had me pleasantly surprised! I will definitely be reading the next two books in 2019!

A great read for any supernatural, mystery or romance lover and also for anyone who has ever had a deep connection with horses or has ever wanted one at least.



Saturday, December 22, 2018

Favorite Traditional Christmas Carols


Bring a Torch, Jeanette, Isabella 

This lively 17th century provincial French carol was written (supposedly) by Charpentier. However, the music was originally intended to be a summer dance song. The song tells the story of two young girls who have received the news of the Jesus' birth and rush out to the village to tell everyone. 

Sussex Carol

A popular English carol written in the 17th century by an Irish bishop, Luke Wadding. There are several variations of this carol and it is also known as "On Christmas Night All Christians Sing."

Wexford Carol

Considered to be the oldest of all traditional Christmas carols, the Wexford Carol retells the Nativity story. Judging by the context of the first lines, it seems to be written in a way to bring comfort to troubled and worried Christians. Wexford is an Irish town that is also known as Enniscorthy.

 

Sunday, December 9, 2018

Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald


     My most anticipated movie of 2018 has been completely worth the two year wait! To say that Crimes of Grindelwald was different is an understatement. There is an intense darkness about it that very much sets it apart from the preceding film. There are at least three different storylines being told and are only brought together until the very end. Oh, there's new characters too...quite a few new characters, but all were great and added so much to growing Wizarding World of the 1920's-1930's.

 Newt Scamander and Tina Goldstein

     Several months after his escapade in New York City and the capture of Gellert Grindelwald, magizoologist, Newt Scamander has become a literary success with the release of his manuscript, "Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them." However, while Newt has made headlines for his work, he has also caused a great deal of strain on the Ministry of Magic for (what they consider) reckless behavior in New York and revoke his international travel license. His only chance of being able to travel internationally is if he works for the Ministry in his brother's security department. Newt's greatest fear is working for any establishment and turns them down. 

    To add to this stress. Newt's former Hogwarts's professor, Albus Dumbledore has tasked him with finding Credence Barebone, who survived his attack in New York, and also to hunt down Grindelwald who has escaped from the Ministry of Magic. Newt rejects any idea of choosing sides and wants to be left alone to care for his creatures. Yet, he comes to his senses when he finds that Tina Goldstein has been working undercover in Paris, also searching for Credence. If anyone can get Newt to come out of his suitcase, it's Tina. 

    Newly reinstated Macusa Auror, Tina Goldstein, has been in search of young Credence Barebone, still feeling responsible for not being able to save him in New York. Tina manages to track him down in Paris, but she soon finds herself captured in the Paris sewers. She is then is rescued by none other than Newt Scamander. While Tina is happy at Newt's return, she harbors resentment for him after reading an inaccurate magazine article claiming Newt to be engaged to his former best friend. So, Tina sets her feelings aside for Mr. Scamander and sets to work on finding Credence before Grindelwald or anyone else does.

Albus Dumbldore and Gellert Grindelwald

     Known to the Wizarding World as 'The greatest wizard of all time,' Albus Dumbledore is remembered by Harry Potter fans as a wise, grey bearded, 100 something year old Headmaster of Hogwarts School and a man with many secrets. 

     60 years prior to the Boy Who Lived, Albus Dumbledore's story is finally being told. Before becoming the charming elderly headmaster, Albus Dumbledore was the handsome Defense Against the Dark Arts professor, known for his easy going manner, a favorite among the students and a kindly, protective father figure to the lost and lonely. 

      He is also known to be a menace; forever undermining the authority of the Ministry of Magic or any other authority for that matter. Yet, when it comes to Gellert Grindelwald, sometimes having a menace could work in their favor, especially since Dumbledore has quite the past history with Grindelwald. When asked to help fight Grindelwald, Dumbledore says he can't, but doesn't elaborate on why. Believing Dumbledore to be behind Newt Scamander's behavior in New York, subsequent disappearance to Paris, and now his refusal to aid them, the Ministry puts Albus under arrest.

     During his house arrest, Albus contemplates his life decisions and shows a quality to Dumbledore, no one has ever seen. Fear. Fear of his own reckless actions, past mistakes and never truly able to make right with who he has wronged. Although unable to fight Grindelwald himself, Dumbledore has faith that Newt's strength of character will end Grindelwald and finally free him from his guilt ridden past. 

~ ~ ~

     Upon escaping from prison, Gellert Grindelwald wastes no time in gathering his followers to Paris to finally set in place his plan for the uprising of all magical persons. Conniving, but charming, Grindelwald has the ability to manipulate people's weaknesses and gain their trust, by taking advantage of them in their most vulnerable and lowest state. Unlike Voldemort who raged and ruled with terror and fear, Grindelwald uses emotion and even truth to gain support and respect. 

     Believing those of the Wizarding World to be superior to non magic people, Grindelwald holds the non-magic responsible for the downfall of humanity. He shows his followers future visions of a horrific second world war, machines of destruction, rounding up of people to camps and a world wide explosion all waged by the non magic; and if they are not stopped, many will perish in the decades to come. Grindelwald wants all magic kind to know his desire to save the world from possible destruction; but to do so, there must be subjugation and rule over the non-magic and the understanding that he himself can be the last hope for humanity. 

Queenie Goldstein and Jacob Kowalski

     After being separated for a time, Queenie the legilimens and Jacob the no-maj reunite and leave America to head to Europe. They arrive in England where relationships between magical and non magic people are permitted and their laws infinitely more progressive. However, when they arrive at Newt's home, it's revealed that Queenie has put Jacob under a powerful love potion with the intent of marrying him. When set free from the potion, Jacob informs Queenie that even thought he loves her and wants to be with her, he can't allow her to thrown her life away.

     Angry at Jacob, Queenie leaves and heads to Paris to find her sister, but gets lost in despair and depression. Without Tina, Queenie is alone and unprotected, but soon finds herself face to face with her former enemy, Gellert Grindelwald. Like always, Grindelwald plays upon Queenie's intense emotional state and leads her to believe that she can be useful to him for the bettering of their world. Queenie must now choose between her former life as a force of peace and goodness or entering Grindelwald's ideology of domination for 'the greater good.'

     Meanwhile, Jacob teams up with Newt to find Tina and hopefully Queenie, but ends up getting more than he bargained for once again. Having to endure a portkey, jailed in the Paris sewers, meeting a wizarding legend, being held hostage in a cemetery and eventually right in the midst of Grindelwald's Paris gathering. Jacob continues to have his best friend's back and aiding him in any way he can while still trying to find the love of his life, whom he fears he may have lost to her own enemy.  

Credence Barebone and Nagini

     Having miraculously survived his obscurial destruction in New York a year before, Credence Barebone has traveled to Europe to discover who he is. It is rumored that he is Corvus Lestrange, a child of a pureblood family thought to be dead, but if found alive, could be the completion of an age old prophecy. While in Paris, Credence befriends Nagini, a side show attraction at a low end wizarding circus. Nagini is a maledictus, she carries a female blood curse that forces her to transform into a beast and in time her animal form as a viscous snake will become permanent. 

     When Credence finds a possible lead to his mother, he and Nagini escape only to meet a dead end and Grindelwald himself. Finally ensnaring the boy he has been searching for, Grindelwald offers Credence a chance to truly know who and what he is. Desperate for any answers at all, Credence follows Grindelwald not knowing what is truly planned for him.

Theseus Scamander and Leta Lestrange

     Theseus Scamander, war hero, head auror of the Ministry of Magic, engaged to Leta Lestrange and overprotective older brother to New Scamander...also a hugger. Theseus is desperate to keep his brother out of trouble and wants Newt to join him at the ministry, working in his division. While Newt balks at the idea of conforming to the establishment, Theseus believes that he can do good for the establishment if given the opportunity by both his superiors and his brother. Ambitious without being power hungry, romantic, but not sentimental, Theseus does not dwell on his life during the war that made him a hero, but focuses on ending Grindelwald before everything he loves is taken away.

     The only bright spot in Theseus' life is his beautiful fiancee, Leta Lestrange. Although gifted with many talents, Leta's whole life has been one of loneliness and neglect. The product of a manipulated marriage that caused bad blood between two families, Leta grew up unwanted by her own family and neglected by most people in her life. At school though, she was befriended by shy New Scamander that showed her kindness when no one else did, shared with her his secret world of magical beasts and understood her when she did not understand herself. 

     Now as an adult, Leta has grown to be an independent Ministry worker and is madly in love with Theseus Scamander, while obviously still harboring affections for Newt. However, Leta is haunted by an old family prophecy that connects to own past wrongs (similar to Dumbledore). Now, to save a young boy's life she must find the courage to confess her wrongs and free herself from her fear and self doubt.


     There is infinitely more that I could write about, but that would require a separate review. This movie was very complex and I had to see it twice to better understand everything that was going on. I appreciated that they continued to build upon Newt's character, by still having him as the charming and awkward animal lover, but also adding his deep dislike of any form of convention. If Newt Scamander proves anything it's that no man is meant to be an island, set apart from the rest of the world. Newt refuses to takes sides in the upcoming battle towards Grindelwald and his sin of remission from the world comes with great sacrifices that finally opens his eyes and makes him choose.  

      Now to end of this master review, take a moment to appreciate the full jewel of this film: 

Jude Law as a ridiculously young and handsome Albus Dumbledore...




Saturday, December 1, 2018

Currently (featuring Newt Scamander...and Theseus)

Newt: Me
 Credence/Obscurial: Life

     Hey everyone. Happy December. 

     Judging by the lone post in November, you can safely assume that I've been rather busy. Well, your assumptions would be correct. (Oh, and Happy Thanksgiving and I hope you all had a good holiday!) My work has been going really well and last month I was given some really long 6-8 hours and working up to five consecutive days. Which is good for me, but definitely tiring! However, the paycheck numbers looked great.

    Then when I'm not working afternoons and nights at the Y, my mom has had me in the soap shop doing...just about everything. November is the family business' busiest time with craft shows every single week and sometimes two shows in one weekend. So, unfortunately the site had to take a backseat while this foreign concept called a busy life has taken over. However, that's what I've wanted too. I hate laying around and having nothing to do and now I have two jobs that benefit both me and others. Certainly not complaining. 


     While the work has been great, other areas of Life have not been. Every year I have to reapply to the company the provides my medication. Usually it's not that bad, but when you're dealing with medication their is always some amount of stress. About a week after I sent off my application, I got a rejection letter telling me that there were a few items on the application missing. I took care of those and in three days I got my medicine. Wonderful. 

    Then the driver's license drama came. My license had to be renewed and so I went into the DMV and renewed it, a month prior to it being expired. Yet it never came. After three weeks I went back twice and asked about it. They said it was never returned to them and the postal service had a record of it being sent out three days after I applied for it. There was a possibility that it may have been accidentally be thrown away. So, the stress level between work and this drama was at an all time high for me. Finally during Thanksgiving week I applied for another license and it came in a couple of days ago. 

     Stress level finally goes down and I can enjoy the holidays.


     Now things have finally slowed down or worked themselves out and I can finally enjoy the holidays as well as start back on the blog again. I'm rather behind on my book and movie reviews! OH! I saw Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald and it was AMMMAZZZING!!!! A movie review is coming up soon. I have no idea how I'm going to do it because there is so much to put in, but I'll try to have it up by this weekend! All I can really say is that it was darker, grittier and infinitely the most complex Wizarding World movie.

     And then there is Theseus Scamander...lets just said I went into this movie expecting to hate him and thinking he was going to be a total jerk, but OMG was I wrong! He's the most enjoyable letdown in any Wizarding World story.