Light the World

Today is the kick-off for the #LIGHTtheWORLD campaign! The idea is "25 ways in 25 days"--that is, each day leading up to Christmas, people are encouraged to do a service to their fellowman (today the challenge was to lift another's burden.) You can get started on a season of goodwill to man here.

Enjoy the cute little video! Merry Christmas! (I love that I can say that now! Haha:)

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What...!

Intellectually I know everyone and their dog has posted this on the social feeds today.
Logically I know I shouldn't get my hopes up for movies, because disappointment is a real thing.

But all I can say is wow!

Hermione Granger 
Emma Watson as Belle in Beauty and the Beast...Emotionally, it looks stunning!

 "There must be more..."

"Come into the light!"

What a lovely design is all I have to say!

Wolf Rescue 

Cheers!

Celtic Traveler

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The Sun & the Moon

A couple of weeks ago, Yorkshire lass Kate Rusby came out with her new album, "Life in a Paper Boat". And, oh, it's been wonderful. My absolute favorite--the one that just matches my whimsy so well--is a song about the Moon in love with the shining Sun.
Take a listen:)

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Long Way North

A few days ago, I saw a trailer for a French animated film called "Long Way North", and I've been enjoying it for days. An aristocratic Russian girl named Sasha loses her grandfather, a great explorer of the North Pole. But she believes he's still alive, and risks all to go to "the top of the world" to find him. It looks absolutely heartwarming, and the word on the street is it's clean (a French movie that's family-friendly? Egad!)
So I just thought I'd share the inspiration.

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My Life So Far

Hullo, lovely people:)
Wow, these past few months have been both odd and amazing, with lots of good things to read and movies to watch. And some of them have been so incredible, I had to share:

Little Boy is a movie that came out this year, and I don't know why it's not more well-known. It's absolutely superb! Set during WWII, a small boy's father-and-best-friend leaves to go to war. And this boy will do anything to get his dad back. The preacher tells him if he has faith, the impossible can happen. But it will require him to be kind, to visit the sick and the sick-in-heart, and even befriend the old local "Jap". But as the war continues, the adults in his life begin to worry. Will faith really be enough to bring his father back? Or will they end up having to break the hard truth to him? And can his simple love and faith stop the prejudice that threatens his new Japanese friend?
I. have. never. cried. so much. during one movie. Good tears and sad tears. The story is told simply and powerfully. I haven't seen a movie this good in years.

Heidi by Johanna Spyri (trans. Eileen Hall): I picked this up a couple of months ago expecting it to be boring. Far from it. It was absolutely enchanting! A very small girl named Heidi goes to live with her gruff grandpa in the Swiss alps. He doesn't like the local villagers and they don't like him. But Heidi's simple love of her grandfather softens the old man's heart. There are complications in her life and in the lives of others, but Heidi has a way of bringing hope and healing to people with her  personality, as well as helping her grandfather to believe in God again. It was a beautiful read, and the descriptions were stunning, and her interactions with people were both thought-provoking and funny.

Also coming up this weekend is General Conference, one of the highlights of my year! This is where the leaders of my church speak to us and it's broadcast all over the world. The topics are inspirational and spiritual, concerning issues of the day and how we can strengthen our families and our relationship with God. The great thing is, you don't have to belong to this church to watch--there's something in it for everyone:) So, I invite all of y'all (dear me, that rhymes) to watch it with me this weekend and get inspired! Click here for more info.

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I'm Back:)

Hello lovely people! I'm home after serving my 18-month mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. It was amazing! Very hard, but the hardest thing I've ever loved to do. I got to meet so many wonderful people and serve alongside people of other religions, and share the good news of Jesus. Anyway, to celebrate, I give you an uplifting video:)
Enjoy!

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He is the Gift

Time to remember what it's all about. Have an early Merry Christmas.

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David Archuleta: GLORIOUS

I haven't posted something since February 2013. The thing is, I just finished listening to this beautiful song, and I thought to myself, This just deserves to be shared.

"It's like a symphony,

Just keep listening

And pretty soon you'll start

To figure out your part.

Everyone plays a piece

And there are melodies

In each one of us.

It's glorious."

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Online II

Some more shameless advertising for a few good webcomics.

Bird Boy
Beautiful world-building, gorgeous art, and a lovable unlikely hero. What more can you ask for?

Gronk: A Monster's Story
The story of an adorable, mischievous little monster being raised by a human (and a geek at that!)

Cucumber Quest
With rabbits as characters, it's like the spoof of every epic quest you've ever read.

I Am Otter
Not technically a web-comic. The delightful adventures of an otter and his teddy are hilarious.

My Milk Toof
Not "technically" a web-comic either. The charming misadventures of two teeth are always sure to brighten my day.

Beyond the Western Deep
I saved the best for last. I've long been a fan of Rachel Bennett's work, but even I didn't she was this talented! Incredible artwork, brilliant characters and a ripping good story.

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I Love People

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Fire with Fire

Remember back when books had struggles between light and dark, not grey with black?
It is a curious trend I notice springing up in most literature, especially YA. The "good guys" are grey and fighting against a even worse threat.
I'm not saying antiheroes are bad, but at least there was a time when these anti-heroes learned their lesson and changed themselves and their world for the better. That is becoming increasingly rare.

Nowadays books are not so strict on the distinction between light and dark.
What are they telling us?

"It's okay to kill fellow children if you're trying to survive."
"Doomed souls like vampires and fallen angels make good romantic companions."

Now, many good books I know have characters that do take a brief walk on the dark side. But once the lesson is learned they turn towards the light and abandon the dark--they even defeat the dark with their new-found light.
Where did that all go?

You remember the old books? I mean, look at The Dark is Rising! The entire series is a literal Light vs. Dark!
Believe me, if Tolkien had never written The Lord of the Rings, and if it were written today, it's be some story of how a hobbit fought evil with the aid a possessive ring. It'd be grey vs. black.
Tolkien avoided that. The ring cannot be used by anyone. It is evil and cannot be used for good in any manner, shape, or form.

I suppose what I'm saying is that I wish that books nowadays didn't focus so much on fighting fire with fire (although I do see the need to defend yourself from evil by fighting.)
I just wish there were books nowadays where love, compassion, and truth could conquer overwhelming darkness.

Give me less darkness. I want light.

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The Hobbit Quotes II

Picture by Justin Gerard
"We may meet again before all is over, and then again of course we may not. That depends on your luck and on your courage and sense; and I am sending Mr Baggins with you."

The others laughed. "You were quite right," they said, "the meat's alive and kicking!"
"I'll soon put an end to that," hissed the angry spider climbing back onto the branch.

Under sunlight, under day!/South away! and South away!/Down the swift dark stream you go/Back to lands you once did know!

They knew that they were drawing near to the end of their journey, and that it might be a very horrible end.

"You have nice manners for a thief and a liar," said the dragon.

"I am the clue-finder, the web-cutter, the sting fly. I was chosen for the lucky number."
"Lovely titles!" sneered the dragon. "But lucky numbers don't always come off."
"I am he that buries his friends alive and drowns them and draws them alive again from the water. I came from the end of a bag, but no bag went over me."
"These don't sound so creditable," scoffed Smaug.
"I am the friend of bears and the guest of eagles. I am Ring-winner and Luckwearer; and I am Barrel-rider," went on Bilbo beginning to be pleased with his riddling.
"That's better!" said Smaug. "But don't let your imagination run away with you!"

"I kill where I wish and none dare resist."

The fire is more shining/On hearth in the gloaming/Than gold won by mining/So why go a-roaming?

"But our back is to legends and we are coming home. I suppose this is the first taste of it."
"There is a long road yet," said Gandalf.
"But it is the last road," said Bilbo.

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2012: A Year in Review

A Summary of Every Movie I Saw This Year and My Thoughts

Paperman: Am I the only one who thinks this should win Best Animated Feature? Even though it's a short film? Stunning animation, stunning story, and it was so beautiful I sobbed. Like a baby. And would have gone on doing so had I not been in public.
2016: Obama's America: A documentary that did more informing than bashing. Despite all that has happened, there can be no doubt that this film was a part of the election.
The Avengers: A character-driven and practically flawless film that raised the bar for Superhero movies.
The Odd Life of Timothy Green: If you have a family and a heart, you'll love it. If you prefer movies like Death Race and Bladerunner, you'll hate it.
Wreck-It Ralph: Despite some crudeness, a clever film with surprising emotional depth. Extremely fun.
Saints and Soldiers 2: Airborne Creed: Not as good as the first, but I didn't expect it to be. Intense WWII drama would be forgettable if not for the German officer's redemption story.
Brave: There was so much potential, but the story was lackluster and ultimately fell flat. The most to recommend the movie was the Scottish setting.
The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey: Overly bloated with scenes and characters that would have felt more at place in an extended edition, the movie suffered from a lack of pacing and bad CGI. An explosion of a movie that lost the heart of the story amid the debris.
The Hunger Games: Since seeing it, I've had to revise my opinion that I have nothing against it. I do. Kids killing kids--highly disturbing and left me with a dark, uninspired feeling.
Rise of the Guardians: Yet to be seen.

Iconic Movie Moments of 2012:

"I want tah change mah fate!"

"Pretend I'm Merida."

Absorbing the sun

"I'm always angry."

Reunited

The German officer and the American soldier

Riddles in the Dark

Creepiest Villains: Loki. Hands down, Loki.

Best Hair:
Merida from Brave 
Loki from The Avengers 
Vanellope from Wreck-It Ralph

Best Special Effects: The Avengers

Best Characters: 
Bruce Banner from The Avengers
The German Officer from Saints and Soldiers 2: Airborne Creed

Best Score:
A Promise by Alan Silvestri from The Avengers

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Merry Christmas

Picture by Walter Rane

 Veni, veni, Emmanuel, 

 Captivum solve Israel, 

Qui gemit in exilio, 

 Privatus Dei Filio. 

 Gaude! Gaude! Emanuel 

 Nascetur pro te, Israel.

O come, O come Emmanuel 

To free your captive Israel 

 That mourns in lonely exile here 

Until the Son of God appear. 

Rejoice! Rejoice! O Israel, 

 To you shall come Emmanuel. 

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So, This is The Hobbit

The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey

Rated PG-13 for extended sequences of intense fantasy action violence, and frightening images.

It doesn't matter what I think.
Because of  loyalty to Tolkien and to the previous, well-done movie trilogy, this movie will be heralded as "not as good as The Lord of the Rings, but alright," and people will still flock to see it.
But all I can say is that Tolkien did not deserve that.
It starts out well enough, what with the prologue, and the dwarves barging in uninvited to Bilbo's home and singing, "That's what Bilbo Baggins hates!" And Martin Freeman and Richard Armitage fit their roles perfectly. It seemed, then, that the movie was going to be alright.

But then the quest began and so did my disappointment.
Unnecessary characters who weren't in the book, unnecessary fight scenes, and far too much emphasis on the necromancer--who only gets a passing mention in the book. The movie was very BUSY, with so many fights and  battles and whatnot, so that throughout all the busy-ness, the heart of the story was ultimately lost. Much of it felt like filler, like Jackson was attempting to cram in as much as possible in order to make part 1 of a simply-told children's book a three-hour long explosion.
(If that does little to convince those who have no interest in the books, then may I say how fake the CGI orcs and goblins looked? And the goblins were quite unbearable to watch, as their design made them much more gag-inducing than Jackson's previous creations.)

It's a shame the way it turned out, and I'm afraid I won't be seeing this again.
I still love Tolkien, however, and will forever remain true to the previous movie trilogy. This film, however, seems to have no part with them.

Verdict: You'll probably go see it anyway, but if the book is dear to your heart I advise you look elsewhere for a true adaptation.
Grey Travel Rating: 2/5
Special Effects: 2/5
Plot: 3/5
Characters: 4/5
Acting: 5/5
Objectionable Content: An obese goblin's stomach is sliced, a couple of references to the nether-regions. 

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The Hobbit Quotes Part 1

Picture by Justin Gerard

"Good Morning!" said Bilbo, and he meant it. The sun was shining, and the grass was very green. But Gandalf looked at him from under long bushy eyebrows that stuck out further than the brim of his shady hat.

"What do you mean?" he said. "Do you wish me a good morning, or mean that it is a good morning whether I want it or not; or that you feel good this morning; or that it is a morning to be good on?"
"All of them at once," said Bilbo.

"We are plain quiet folk and have no use for adventures. Nasty disturbing uncomfortable things! Make you late for dinner!"

Far over the Misty Mountains cold,/To dungeons deep and caverns old,/We must away, ere break of day,/To seek the pale enchanted gold./The dwarves of yore made mighty spells,/While hammers fell like ringing bells,/In places deep, where dark things sleep,/In hollow halls beneath the fells./For ancient king and elvish lord/There many a gleaming golden hoard/They shaped and wrought, and light they caught,/To hide in gems on hilt of sword./On silver necklaces they strung/The flowering stars, on crowns they hung/The dragon-fire, on twisted wire/They meshed the light of moon and sun.

Trolls simply detest the very sight of dwarves (uncooked).

"Where did you go off to, if I may ask?" said Thorin to Gandalf as they rode along.
"To look ahead," said he.
"And what brought you back in the nick of time?"
"Looking behind," said he.

Even the good plans of wise wizards like Gandalf and of good friends like Elrond go astray sometimes when you are off on dangerous adventures over the Edge of the Wild; and Gandalf was a wise enough wizard to know it.

"Why, O why did I ever leave my hobbit-hole!" said poor Mr Baggins bumping up and down on Bombur's back.

He could hear the goblins beginning a horrible song: Fifteen birds in five firtrees,/their feathers were fanned in a fiery breeze!/But, funny little birds, they had no wings!/O what shall we do with the funny little things?/Roast 'em alive, or stew them in a pot;/fry them, boil them and eat them hot?

"A very good tale!" said he. "The best I have heard for a long while. If all beggars could tell such a good one, they might find me kinder. You may be making it all up, of course, but you deserve a supper for the story all the same."

"Breakfast!" he cried. "Where is breakfast?"
"Mostly inside us," answered the other dwarves who were moving about the hall; "but what is left is out on the veranda."

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A Guide to the Dwarves of The Hobbit

Created by Celtic Traveler via picmonkey.com. I do not own the pictures, fonts, or the rights to the movie, obviously.

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Famous Literary Swords: Sting

Sting
The Hobbit, The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien

As you can see, there are no Elvish markings when Bilbo first finds it.
These were added later by the elves at Rivendell.

Sting was lost around the same time as Glamdring, and in the same battle. Along with Glamdring, Sting was found in the troll hoard, where it was described as a blade that "would have made only a tiny pocket-knife for a troll, but it was as good as a short sword for the hobbit". The sword glowed blue whenever orcs or goblins were near (a common property of blades forged in Gondolin).

The sword's gaining of a name is an historic occurrence. After killing a spider in Mirkwood "all alone by himself...without the help of the wizard or the dwarves", Bilbo felt "a different person, and much fiercer and bolder..."

...he wiped his sword on the grass and put it back into its sheath. "I will give you a name," he said to it, "and I shall call you Sting."

Bilbo carried the weapon throughout the "incident with the dragon" and ended up giving Sting to his nephew Frodo, when the young hobbit was setting out to destroy the One Ring.
The sword seems to come in full circle, for it was on that same quest that Sam took up the sword to protect Frodo and kill the most dangerous and deadly of all spiders, Shelob.

"Let him go, you filth."

At the end of the Third Age Frodo gave the sword to Sam, and the sword became a Gamgee family heirloom.

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Mythical

If there's one collection of Greek myths I love, it's The McElderly Book of Greek Myths. It has to be one of the only collections I shall ever buy for my children.

The first reason, of course, is the narrative. Instead of treating the people scattered throughout the tales as stiff, black-and-white archetypes, Mr. Kimmel gives them character, explians their weaknesses and describes their strengths. He really makes them human (if human can be used to describe the mythical beings in the stories.)

Take this example from "Pandora's Box":

Epimetheus came home. He found Pandora lying on the floor...Her eyes were red from weeping.
The overturned box lay in the corner. He knew at once what had happened. "I am so sorry," Pandora said. "I broke my promise...I only meant to take a peek. Instead I ruined everything."
"Don't be sorry," said Epimetheus, taking her hand. "You made a mistake. That is all. the fault was mine. I should have explained what was in the box and why it had to remain closed."

It also has the occasional laugh, as shown in "Persephone and Hades":

Persephone let out a shriek. The ruler of the Underworld was frightening enough. Seeing him in
love was absolutely terrifying.

Even Medusa has depth. She is evil, to be sure, but only came down that path after becoming embittered by the curse that took away her beauty. 

And the romances are told in such a  beautiful way--even if most of them are tragic. (As a poster for the opera Orpheus and Eurydice once said: "Boy meets girl. Boy loses girl. Boy goes to Hades to get girl back.")

But the main reason I adore this collection are Pep Montserrat's illustrations. They add such passion and drama to the stories! The emotion in the pictures, coupled with Mr. Kimmel's writing really bring it all to life.

Take a look:

"Now is the time. Kill your father!"

I never wondered what Daedalus and Icarus might have felt
when they were imprisoned--until this illustration.

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The Lord of the Rings Tag

Got this off The Life of a Musician and Dancer.
Couldn't resist.
So here we go:

Have you read the books? 
Three times. Each.

Provided you've read the books, which is your favorite? 
The Fellowship of the Ring. There's something just so classic, so childhood-y nostalgic about it for me.

Have you read the Hobbit? 
Yes, twice. When I was young I remember the old cartoon was playing for it, but I didn't like it and didn't even know it had anything to do with The Lord of the Rings.

Have you read any Lord of the Rings companions? Not movie companions, but Middle Earth and book companions? 
I read the poems about Tom Bombadil, and I've also read The Children of Hurin, but it's not my favorite.

Have you seen the movies? 
Have I seen the movies? *maniac laugh*  Why does it ask us silly questions, preciousss?

Have you read any movie guides? If so, which one(s)? 
I own all of The Art of the Lord of the Rings books. They're brilliant.

Which is your favorite movie? 
It's between Fellowship and Return of the King. While Fellowship once more reminds me of my childhood, The Return of the King is. just. epic.

What's your favorite scene from the trilogy?
Just one?! Well, I'd have to say where Gandalf and the Rohirrim come charging down the hill as the sun rises. That's just stunning.

What scenes do you find exceptionally touching?
The Breaking of the Fellowship, where Frodo remembers Gandalf's words and Sam goes after him,
"There's some good in this world, Mr. Frodo",
and "I can't carry it for you. But I can carry you!"
Come to think of it, mostly ones involving Sam.

Have you seen the extended movies?
Yes, and I own the second one. It was a birsssday present.

Tell us your three favorite characters (good luck narrowing it down) and why.
Sam for his loyalty and innocent courage, Aragorn for his selfless bravery, and Faramir, because he has many emotional struggles, and so his happy ending with Eowyn is much more sweet.

Who bugs you the most in the terms of being really annoying (but not necessarily wicked?)
Gollum. I mean, sometimes I pity him, but sometimes I just wish Sam would shove his head in.

What are your feelings on Boromir? 
 It bugs me when people who haven't read the books think he's evil. He's not. He just gave in to the lure of the ring, and that was his downfall. He learned his lesson too late. But he was a good man, and you can really see that, especially in the way he looks out for Merry and Pippin, and in that extended scene with him and Faramir (why they didn't keep that in the theatrical version, I'll never know).

Who do you like better, Aragorn or Faramir? 
Aragorn. But I still love Faramir--he's also a good man.

Which Lord of the Rings weapon would you use?
A bow.

What do you think about Eowyn?
"...fair and cold, like a morning of pale spring..."
She's an incredible, brave woman.

If you were going into battle, which character would you want to take with you?
Aragorn.

Which girl is your favorite?
Eowyn.

Which hobbit is your favorite?
Samwise Gamgee.
(These questions are getting too easy.)

Which location is your favorite?
The Shire is just picturesque. I could gladly live there till the end of my days.

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