Monday, May 30, 2011

Summer

I can't believe the weather lately.  May 21, cool and cloudy.  May 25, warm and climbing!  Ninety degrees on Thursday, wasn't it?  Incredible!  I keep expecting to wake up and find it cold again.  It's been doing that - getting our hopes up with one warm day and then going back to cold tempertures.  But no!  I think it's finally here to stay!  I know because I'm burned to a crisp on my back and face.


A little treat for y'all:



Happy Memorial Day to you all

~Meggy

Saturday, May 28, 2011

Rebecca

A Movie Review by Magdalen Aithne Arkwright

Rebecca, Hitchcock's first American film, is incredible.  I loved it.  There is a slight difference between the book and the movie, but I think I prefer the way the movie portrayed it.  (Note: don't watch the special features; it gives an unnecessary, twisted view of the movie and the original author)

Rebecca is about a young woman, who remains unnamed, who marries a social elite: "I've a very impressive array of first names, George Fortescu Maximilian."  As the second Mrs. de Winter, the narrator finds herself constantly under the standard set by the first Mrs. de Winter, a.k.a Rebecca.  Simply everyone pities Maxim - as those close to Mr. de Winter call him - for he seems much disturbed over his former wife's drowning.  But was the marriage really as happy as it is portrayed?  Ah, and Mrs. Danvers, the housekeeper, was so very attached to Rebecca and resents our protagonist.  But, finally, the mysterious presence of Rebecca, haunting the earth through those she left behind, is explained and conquered.

The narrator's simplicity and honesty, and her devoted love for her husband, make the movie wholeheartedly thrilling.

Rating: T
Points: 9
Satisfation: 10

[Note: after reading the book, I am very impressed with the faithful portrayal - almost to the letter with the exception of perhaps two major details]

~Meggy

Thursday, May 26, 2011

Rose in Bloom by Louisa May Alcott


Warning! spoiler:


I've just finished Rose in Bloom by Louisa May Alcott.  I really enjoyed it and relished diving into a world that held the values I kept myself.  Rose was a perfect role model - almost too much so!  Rose is so honest and open.  She tries her best to be her best, and I think she well accomplishes it.

Phebe is a doll - so loyal and sweet and persevering.

Uncle Alec is my hero - so wise and good.

Mac is a perfect man - he is patient, passionate, real, and true.

Charlie represents the men I often see as the ideal, but which I sometimes realize fall short - passionate but unstable.

I found it a quite satisfactory, easy read.  The only problem I had with it was Rose's reaction to Charlie's death.  Although there were hints that she mourned his death, the only real sentiment that was described was relief now that he was off her hands.  Although emotional fits would change and complicate the story, it was somewhat disconcerting.  I would have been content if it mentioned her sorrow but Rose was strong enough that she didn't give into it.

Otherwise, it was lovely!  I wouldn't mind owning it.

~Meggie

Thursday, May 19, 2011

American Literature

I've just finished my American Literature book!  Don't get me wrong - I loved it!  It was very informative and I learned a lot.  But I am glad that's out of the way.  Summer is now one subject closer!




A treat for my readers:

Tuesday, May 17, 2011

The Necessity for a Hero/Heroine in a Story (Warning: Mature and Controversial Content)

I've only watched Glee twice - I was pleasantly disappointed.  That is, I was disappointed in myself for wanting to see it the second time, but I was also disappointed in the TV show - which I was glad to find since I had expected that.

Of course, it's set in a high school, and high school students are hardly perfect.  There was suggestive content - which is perhaps the only reason that immediately kept me from watching it a third time.  (More about that later.)  The actions of the characters make it appear as though the one biggest goal is sex - and I've found no evidence to contradict this.

The first episode was about a gay kid named Kurt (or so I remember) and his struggles as his dad fights with death in a hospital bed.  Kurt doesn't believe in God, but apparently many of his friends in his club do and they attempt to bring him religion to give him hope and strength.  But he wants nothing to do with that, and of course the obstacle of his homosexuality is part of his battle with God.  Some of the other kids sing songs about God, hoping to convince and give him hope.  But of course, this draws the hatred of one of the teachers, who enlists Kurt to help her stop the "preaching".  In the end, one of the girls tell Kurt, "I know you don't believe in God, and that okay - to each his own.  But you've got to believe in something...."  In the end, Kurt decides he believes in the relationship between him and his dad - and his dad survives.  In a beautiful turn of events, the teacher backs off and the students sing "One of Us."  Although there were parts that could have been left out, I was surprised to find that they covered this fascinating topic, which is why I went back for more the next week.

The next one was about homosexuality and sex and selfishness - period.  A girl that apparently swings both ways makes out with a boy in a wheelchair and hurts his feelings when he finds out that sex means nothing to her - although the step meant everything to him.  A new boy transfers to their school and Kurt partners up with him to sing a duet - Kurt hopes he's gay but it turns out he's not, and that leaves hurt feelings.  Girls become partners, even though they usually hate each other, in an attempt to come up with the best duet.  A couple decide to sing something offensive because they "know" they'll win, but they don't want to knock the new boy out before some big competition thing that I didn't understand (probably the point of the whole show).  A girl tells Kurt that even though he's lonely, he's not alone, and hey - they're going to get to the finals because of his talent - he accepts this with pride.  Yes, although emotionally involving and attractive, it has no hero to speak of and so a viewer must then make one for himself, resulting in emotionally constipated and selfish and making out teenagers becoming role models for our lives.  I can't and will not watch something like that.

I have the same problem with Harry Potter.  While some are concerned about the cult aspects that have affected kids around the world, I am more concerned with the fact that the heroes and heroine - Harry, Ron, and Hermione - all all screwy in the head!  That isn't to say that they don't have their moments, but Harry's always shooting off about the pressures and Ron's always jealous and impulsive and Hermione is proud and loud.  There are great novels in which the protagonists are jerks and, through the trials of life, they change.  This, so far as I can see, does not happen.  Even Albus Dumbledore, the greatest wizard of all time, turned out to be whack.  There isn't a hero among them!  Again! an emotionally constipated and prideful young man becomes our hero - and this because he kills someone!  Understandably, Lord Voldemort had it coming to him and I don't claim that Harry shouldn't have done what he did - even so, he is our hero because he seeks to kill someone.  There is no other reason; he is not moral or a role model, and just because he is perhaps more level headed than his two companions at times is not enough cause for admiration.  He destroys a man - an evil man, yes - but a man all the same, and that is why we idolize Harry Potter.  I claim that J.K. Rowling failed in writing an epic masterpiece.

~Meggy

Tuesday, May 10, 2011

"Rapunzel, Rapunzel, let down your hair" (Tangled analysis - Eugene)

"Rapunzel?  Rapunzel, let down your hair!"

Not only is this the line everyone has been waiting for, identifying Eugene as Rapunzel's rescuer, this is a turning point in the movie Tangled from Disney.

Flynn (Eugene): "Listen, Blondie-"

Rapunzel: "-Rapunzel."

Flynn (Eugene): "...Gesundheit."

And from here on, Flynn calls Rapunzel "Blondie" - that is, until he arrives to save her.  "Rapunzel?  Rapunzel, let down your hair!"  This moment makes it clear to everyone that Flynn has become Eugene for good.  The lantern scene wasn't a dream - it was real, and Eugene really does have a new dream.


~Meggy

Wednesday, May 4, 2011

It's raining today.  A few days ago, I would have been frustrated, but today I'm glad.  I want a rainy day.  In fact, I'm going to pop some corn kernels and snuggle with a blanket while I study.

Here's a new song I absolutely love:

Sunday, May 1, 2011

Never Fail Recipe for a sweet Strawberry-Rhubarb Pie

Preheat oven (to 425 degrees)

Combine 2 1/2 tablespoons of tapioca with:
sliced strawberries (suggested: 4 cups)
at least 1 cup of sliced rhubarb
2/3 cups of sugar
1 tablespoon of lemon juice
a pinch of ground nutmeg
a pinch of salt

Mix all this well

Roll the bottom crust out and put into the bottom of a pie plate

Pour in the filling from above

Slice upper/top crust into strips:
-lay every other strip horizontally across the top of the pie
-weave the other half of the strips under-over vertically
(or viseversa)

(You may want to lie a sheet of foil on the rack underneath to catch any drippings.)

Put the pie on rack in center of oven for 20 minutes.

Rotate pie 180 degrees and lower the temperature in the oven to 325 degrees.

Bake for 30-35 more minutes.

Cool for two hours.

Enjoy!  Mother loves this immensely.

~Meggy
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