Flashback Friday Post

In which I randomly select a year, a month and a post 

to look back upon

June 26, 2014

Mockingjay Trailer Pt. 1 - "President Snow's Address to Panem"

~ ~ ~

 WOW

WOW

WOW!

Final Fantastic Beasts Trailer! (feat. Harry Potter Cast reactions)

However, after I see the film, I believe my emotions are going to be somewhere along this particular line:

Goodreads Reviews: True To The Last

True to the Last by Evelyn Everett-Green

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

A little story that, even in its simplicity, has profound truths that resonate for every generation. A sickly little boy, Arnold, loses his mother at a young age. He is taken in by Mary--who is known as Aunt Mary--an old friend of his mother who is also caring for her nephews, Geoffrey-12 and Ted-9, the sons of her widowed brother.

 It's not long before Arnold is swept up by the mischief of cheeky little Ted, while Geoffrey is ever the watchful older brother who keeps on eye on both boys. Overtime, Arnold begins to notice that Geoff has a wonderful love of nature and a gift with animals. He loves horses and is even raising his own chickens and sometimes prefers the company of animals over people. Geoff also has a deep Christian devotion which intrigues Arnold and sparks several conversations between the two boys.

When the boys father, Colonel Douglas, returns home his obvious favoritism is seen when he dotes on Ted, but forever accuses Geoff of not being a better son and brother. No matter what Geoff does, how hard he tries, his father is never pleased. Situations worsen for Geoff when he becomes the target of new-comer, Arthur Heath, a bully who has no regard for rules. While Ted and Arnold worship Arthur, Geoff is wary of him and tries to protect the younger boys from Arthur's schemes. However, Arthur doesn't waste time in harassing Geoff and going as far as killing one of his animals with no remorse at all.

Over and over again, Geoff is disgraced by Arthur, while Arthur himself takes the glory for Geoff's quiet heroic actions. Yet, Geoff takes this all in stride, much to Arnold's amazement. After a family holiday, an alarming discovery is made concerning Geoff. Now both Arthur and Colonel Douglas as well as Arnold and Ted must face the consequences of their past actions toward Geoffrey when they risk losing him forever.

I was struck at how deeply emotional and moving this story was. I admire Geoffrey for his heroism and humility, while loathing Arthur Heath for his selfish and at times inhumane nature. Their is a reality to this story that I think young children today can relate to. Peer pressure, parental approval, bullying, questions of God and Christianity, just to name a few. True to The Last proves that there really is nothing new under the sun and that a loyal heart is infinitely more valuable than any earthly treasure we possess.

Flashback Friday Post

In which I randomly select a year, a month and a post 

to look back upon

April 3, 2012

Just For Kicks

~Ors~

Black or white? Black

Milk, dark, or white chocolate? Milk

Night or day? Night

Sunshine, snow, or rain? Snow

City or country? Country. It's too beautiful for words sometimes.

Indoors or out? Depends on the weather

Hugs or kisses? Only from babies

Breakfast, lunch, or dinner? Lunch

Spring, summer, fall, or winter? Winter

Chick flick or action movie? Depends on who is in it and what it's about.

Drama or comedy? Drama

Reading or writing? Writing

Mr. Darcy or Mr. Knightley? Niether. Mr. Crawley for me.

Arts or sciences? Arts

Add one!

~3s~

3 favorite movies: Ever After, Amazing Grace, The Young Victoria

3 last books you read: Godiva, A Break With Charity, When Calls The Heart

3 things you could never do without: Family, computer, cell phone

3 celebrity crushes: Hugh Jackman, Dan Stevens, Allen Leech

3 words that describe your life right now: Happy, searching, creative

3 book/fictional characters you would marry: Matthew Crawley (Downton Abbey), Tom Branson (Downton Abbey), King Caspian X (The Chronicles of Narnia)

3 things on your bucket list: Write a novel, swim with dolphins, go bungee jumping

3 places you wish to travel: India, Switzerland, The Galapagos Islands 

Add one!

~Somethings~

Something you want: A child

Something you fear: A seizure

Something you love: Writing

Something you hate: Uncaring people

Something that makes you laugh: My niece

Something that makes you cry: Movies about the Royal family

Something you're addicted to: My computer

Something that annoys you: Slow internet

Something that makes you happy: When someone smiles back at me

Add one!

~Randoms~

Favorite saint: Joan of Arc

Last song you heard: On Earth As It Is In Heaven by Ennio Morricone

Ideal date: Taking a walk down a country road

Guilty pleasure: Downton Abbey Tumblr sites

Favorite music era: 1940s

Last thing you ate: Sour cream and onion chips

Dream job: Mother

Favorite word/phrase: "Are you serious?"

Something people may not know about you: The first thing I notice about people are their hands. Especially if it's an attractive man, because I'll be looking for a wedding ring.

Add one!

Now it's your turn! :)

Lately (feat. Loki)

Me enjoying the weather right now

     Well, there have been some significant changes in my life in the last month! Firstly, the weather has finally cooled down and it feels amazing! I would like to think that the last of Virginia's humid summers is over, but God has a great sense of humor when it comes to the weather. However, weather set aside, it has been a crazy last few weeks!

     My younger sister got married earlier this month and it was wonderful! The wedding was held

at the Hilton Garden Inn on the most beautiful sunny and cloud free day. I always thought it would be a fun idea to get married at a hotel and now that we've done it, there may be no other way to do a wedding from now on! Oh, my mom and most of my family pretty much planned the entire wedding! With hardly any input from the bride at all; she just didn't care. So everything from the food, the flowers, the colors, the bouquets, all of it was decided by my mom. And I have to admit, she did a pretty damn good job too. 

I normally don't compliment people, but when I do, I'm extra about it.

     I got to dance at this wedding too! It may seem a little insignificant, but when I went to my brother's wedding last year, I only danced once and that was with my dad. I'm not saying that's a bad thing, but it is awkward sitting and watching everyone have fun and dance, and you're completely ignored--#storyofmylife--. I'm not the type of person to just walk up to someone and ask them to dance or just get up on the floor. That's simply not me and probably never will be. However, I was able to dance a lot more in this wedding and after a while I wasn't so nervous to just get up and have fun. All in all, it was a great day.

***Wedding Photos***

     The best piece of news so far is that I have another job! Like an official job! I'm working part time in childcare at a gym. Basically, I watch kids when their parents are working out or in classes. They play games--primarily video games--and in general, have a fun place to relax. Now I initially turned down the job when I got a call for an interview mainly because I had already given my time to babysitting and my mom's shop. I didn't think I would have time another job.

 The moment I hung up, I knew I had made a dreadful mistake. 

Same Loki. Same.

     I thought my mom was going to kill me when I told her. I almost wanted to kill myself. It was about the most uncomfortable morning I have yet to go through. However, I manged to get the interview and now I am gainfully employed at a well respected establishment. I've only worked there for a week and so I'm not going to be too hasty in my judgments, but so far I'm really enjoying it. Working there gets you a free gym membership as well and you better believe I'm using it to my benefit!

     Last month I wrote about how I feared that blogging may becoming a thing of the past? Well, I'm happy to say that may not be for a while. After cleaning out over 50 blogs on my reading list, I've manged to find some other great blogs and reconnect with people that I haven't talked to in a while. There has been a resurrection in my blogging life and quite frankly I am so so happy about it! I have manged to find some good things to do for my site and it's been working in my favor so far.

     Oh, the reading challenge is going great too. 5 books read this month : ) I could honestly do this, 50 books in a year!

Thank you Loki for managing to be a living mood for every paragraph of this post.

Doctor Strange

     Without a doubt the most unique and different storyline from Marvel. Unlike super soldier serums, tech suits, or natural born godlike abilities, Doctor Strange explores the use of ancient mysticism. Using and connecting ones mind and body to create, in a sense, magic which includes insurmountable forces of energy, teleportation between worlds and alternate dimensions, use of mystical objects, spells and incantations, the three great Sanctums and the protection of one green stone. 

      Yeah...for lack of a better description, it's a strange concept. However, as the movie continues you really begin to see that these abilities can be found in anyone. The use and discipline of the mind can do incredible things if properly taught. The world of Doctor Strange is split into multiple dimensions and all are accessible through the magical abilities of the sorcerers' supreme. This power is not without its extremely dark and dangerous side. All who study this incredible magic may be consumed by its all intriguing power. Very few ever really rise to the challenge of stopping the ones who abuse the power they have been given.

     When renown, but arrogant neurosurgeon, Dr. Stephan Strange, loses the use his hands in a car accident, he stops at nothing to find a cure. He goes through numerous treatments and surgeries, but the results are never what he expects. Stephan needs his hands; without them then what good is his life as a surgeon? He has one final hope when he hears about a former soldier who was so badly wounded that the doctors told him he would never walk again. This soldier went to Kathmandu, Nepal for soul searching and came back completely cured.

     Desperate to know what this cure is, Stephan heads to Kathmandu looking for a mystic simply known as 'the Ancient One.' There he finds a woman gifted with great kindness and wisdom, but also powerful and elusive. The Ancient One runs the humble compound of Kamar-Taj that houses and trains all who are looking for a life beyond themselves and the world they knew.  By using the powerful forces of mysticism a person can create and manipulate forces from both mind and body. While training in martial arts and the understanding of age old spells that guide all those seeking another path. This mysticism is used to combat the forces of evil the invade earth and other dimensions. 

     The Ancient One gathers and trains those she believes have the ability and the desire not for greatness, but for betterment of themselves and to be able ally against evil such as her former apprentice Kaecilius, who has turned himself entirely over to Dormammu, a great power that manipulates and controls. When the Ancient One believes that a person has enough balance of power and humanity, he or she may be given control of one of three Sanctums (Hong Kong, New York and London) that monitors all the dark forces that threaten mankind.

     At first, all Stephan wants is for his hands to be healed and even scoffs at the idea mysticism and its uses. Overtime, he begins to grasp the extraordinary power of magic. He meets Baron Mordo, a man that desires truth and strength, but finds it difficult to trust others and Wong, the no-nonsense librarian who is more knowledgeable in the arts of ancient mysticism than anyone else. 

     Stephan begins to build a new, but unexpected life that is not made in money and fame, but in duty and sacrifice. Although he may be a wizard, Stephan is also a solider whose sole purpose is protect earth and surrounding dimensions from maniacal evils. Dr. Stephan Strange set out to find a cure for his hands, but he found hope instead; and with that hope, he will never back down or compromise from anyone who threatens him or humanity.   

     What I wrote hasn't scratched the surface of what the movie is about, but I hardly understand what's going on to begin with! That being said, Doctor Strange really is a story of its own. So different and unique from other superhero stories, you can't help but be caught up in the beauty and extreme power of magic through mysticism. The artistry in this film is not for those who get motion sick easily. It feels like you're on a colorful roller coaster ride, but it is so cool to watch!

      Stephan's story arc and character growth is wonderfully woven into the story. Starting out as a rich and pompous jerk and ending as a wise and humble (well, most of the time) Sorcerer Supreme, Stephan Strange is a likable hero not too different from Tony Stark in some regards. Benedict Cumberbatch is very popular in my household, so I was going to watch it regardless if I understood the movie or not! He was great as Dr. Strange, though! Ridiculously good looking too. Very few people can wear that flying carpet cape and still keep their dignity intact, but Ben rocked it. 

     While Doctor Strange is a lot to take in and even more to understand, it still holds the traditional superhero theme of good v evil. How good will always win, but that also means that sacrifice will happen as well. While Stephan may have lost his career, his money and his playboy lifestyle, he has discovered the true beauty and honor of becoming a force for good. And being a force for good is going to make Dr. Strange an integral key player in Avengers: Infinity War...

Flashback Friday Post

In which I randomly select a year, a month and a post 

to look back upon

August 2, 2016

*I'm not going to lie, I was really happy about this "random" selection...*

I Most Ardently Love and Admire...

     Remember back in my Granchester review how I said I could go on about how I love James Norton, but it would have to be at another time? Well, this would be the time! Without coming off as too much of a crazy fan-girl, I will say that James Norton has definitely captured my attention, not just with his rugged looks (that beautiful curly red hair), but he's an exceptional actor! He plays the conflicted man very well, but also manages to portray the romantic hero, that isn't sappy or overemotional. 

      The first movie I saw him in was Death Comes To Pemberley where he plays Henry Alvenston, a good and honorable suitor of Georgiana Darcy who is completely in love with her (I was so happy when they got together in the end!). Then I saw him in War & Peace, where he was the wonderful and noble Prince Andrei Bolkonsky who somehow had the ability to make those cold Russian winters seem a great deal warmer to the viewers. And of course, Grantchester! He's amazing at the generous, complex, energetic vicar that can't seem to win for losing. I mean really, Sydney can't win with anyone in this show! That's why I love it though : )

James Norton as the irresistibly romantic hero

      And for any Harry Potter fans that come across this post, I believe he would totally kill it as Charlie (the invisible brother) Weasley who trains dragons in Romania. Look up Charlie's description in "The Goblet of Fire" and that's pretty much James Norton. Now I just really want Grantchester to come back on PBS! This is a rare burst of unbarred fandom love for me, but every now and then, I have to make my love known for a great up and coming actor.