The Most Romantic Time of the Day

If you've been around for awhile, you may have participated in the poll on this very topic.  Dusk won the vote 4-1, but dawn came in second (with a vote of one).  Why did I choose dawn?

...............................................


It's early in the day - just after 5 o'clock (which is dawn this time of year).  The air is damp and cool.  The world feels... heavy, but not suffocating.  There is a sweet smell in the air - it's like... living things, bathed and cool in dew, but warming with the first rays of sun.  There's a bite to the temperature, even in the summer, that shocks your brain and stings your eyes.  The moisture in the air catches your throat and tickles your skin.

You walk through the wet grass and wild flowers.  Some buds are still closed at this time of the day, waiting for the sun before they'll get up - you beat even nature to waking.  Even in summer, the hottest months of the year, early morning feels a little chilly in comparison to the warmest hours of the day - you clutch a thin sweater about you.

The scent of leaves is especially heavy and intoxicating with the fresh dew just beginning to evaporate.  Only the earliest birds are chirping now, if any are chirping at all.  Yet the world isn't silent.  Everything around you is humming with the restless breathing of the sleeping earth.  If you're not alone, your loved one puts him arm around your shoulders - quiet but there.

The sun breaks the horizon in the east, flooding the sky with color.  Yet everything stays quiet.  What's the matter with everybody?  The sun is up now, bestowing its blessings!

Only the earliest riser can witness this miracle, and those that are bothering to see it are usually the ones who are chirping.  It's just you, and that special someone who shares it with you.  The day is still fresh and clean.  There's no one around to poison it yet.

If you're lucky, there's a gentle breeze, blowing right through that sweater you've got wrapped around you, whisking away the last traces of tomorrow.


~Meggy

Important - XP Antivirus

The razzberry - is it coincidental or deliberate?

Well, I don't know, but this malware masquerading as a antivirus program is really vicious.  If it had waited just a little longer to attack my sister's notebook, it never would have gotten to this stage.  By then I would have installed a real antivirus software on her computer.  But alas! it's too late for her.

But you still have time, my friends!  You can still protect yourself against this vicious attack of malware.

....Okay, all kidding aside, XP Antivirus is really bad.  It tells you constantly that you have dozens of viruses that you don't actually have.  It insists you buy it's stuff to save your computer.  It will manipulate your computer to keep you from doing things you want.  You will probably lose access to the Internet and it will be to late to do anything.....

Do something about it.  My computer course recommends Malwarebytes and I now have it on my computer.  It's free and it has detected and taken care of two viruses on my computer without payment or personal information.  Whatever you do, make sure your computer's security system is up to date and secure.  A simple firewall is not good enough!  You need something that scans your computer regularly and sends you updates - my parents have McAfee and it's been working for them.

Be informed!  Be protected!  A warning to the wary..........

~Meggy

Cars 2

A Movie Review by Magdalen Aithne Arkwright

This is a tricky movie to review.  It was certainly different from the first.  In some ways, it wasn't the great classic I think the first will be, but I still walked out of that movie theater going, "Wow!  I wouldn't mind seeing that one again!"

Without giving too much away:

Mater struggles with being "an idiot", which is not a new topic.  However, as always, Pixar handles the conflict with amazing ability.  As Mater fans all over the world already know, Mater is no idiot.  Mostly it's fun, and I think car geeks and techies with get the greatest kick out of it, but it certainly was entertaining.  Although the movie's focus is more on Mater, Lightning is still in the movie spotlight, and he learns yet another lesson on friendship.  At no point during the movie did I want to say, "This is another one of those stupid sequels about a supporting character," or, "Oh how cliche!"  Although the concepts weren't new and the "revelations" predictable, Pixar doesn't lay heavy on the dull.  It worked out great for them!  The set up worked, the build up was smooth, the climax took an unexpected turn, and the resolution was perfect.  (And who doesn't need a few dents? ;) )

None of the trailers I could find do this movie justice - just watch it.

This gets my ten out of ten, and a D (see sidebar).  Be advised the images are sometimes intense and the vicious actions of one or more cars may be too much for young children.


~Meggy

Heroes of the Valley

A Book Review by Magdalen Aithne Arkwright

I think the theme of this book - written by Jonathan Stroud - had something to do with taking responsibility and maybe the true meaning of honor.  Rick Riordan's comment of the book describes the setting as "an alluring Viking world".  I'm not sure how he got the impression that it was a "Viking world", but perhaps that was the closest comparison he could find.  It certainly holds some of the, say, "uncivilized" ways of life that a Viking colony might live, but I was unaware that Vikings had castles.

Overall, I was not impressed with the book.  Although Stroud's writing style was commendable, the rest of the novel does not deem notable mention.  I will say that the plot was... well, somewhat confusing.  A reader may find it easy to follow, but exactly why the Trows were attacking people before Svein died is beyond me.  Furthermore, it was rather gruesome to think of characters you knew fairly well getting torn to pieces by the the Trows.  It wasn't right for Halli to maliciously lead his enemies into the valley with the intent that they get torn to pieces by the Trows, especially when the battle was his fault.  And Stroud's depiction of the dead spirits apparently remaining and eternally "sleeping" in their graves is rather pessimistic and discouraging.  Stroud demonstrated a mastery of English vocabulary, grammar, and storytelling, but not of moral principles or of writing an alluring story.

I consider it good, but not excellent, and I rate it for teens only.

~Meggy

Rebecca - once again

Movie Review by Magdalen Aithne Arkwright

It's based on a novel published in the late 1930s, written by Daphne Du Maurier.  It's 176 minutes long.  It's done by ExxonMobil Masterpiece Theater in 2003.  Note: some mature content.

The movie was impressive.  If anything, it may have stuck even closer to the original plot than Hitchcock's film.  It, too, compromised the ending and Rebecca's death, changing it for reasons unapparent to this reviewer.

The age difference between Maxim and our protagonist is made quite obvious.  Because it was originally on TV, it is longer and so allows for more content.  What more can be said?  It is nowhere near the masterpiece that Hitchcock's film is, but it does portray the novel rather well.  There were aspects to it that I preferred to Hitchcock's movie, but it did contain mature content.  The beginning of the movie is rather sloppily put together so that some of the literary techniques and such are lost.  Our heroine's relationship with Maxim as portrayed by the movie is not exactly the restrained relationship of the novel.  Although our protagonist sometimes expresses her feelings that Maxim treats her like a child, they otherwise have a passionate relationship.

In this movie, the focus isn't so much on our heroine's emotional and maturing struggle.  Unfortunately, although it sticks to the book in some places better than the Hitchcock film, it fails to stick to the feeling of the book.  The language was rough and the physical passion was rather sickening.

My rating: 7 out of 10; M (see sidebar)

~Meggy

Nashoba Publishing Article

It was a grand day at Salve Regina University. Graduates processed in to bagpipes playing "Wearing of the Green," the legendary and once forbidden anthem of Irish freedom fighters. About 600 graduates marched past, in flowing black gowns and traditional mortarboards with tassels blowing in the ocean breeze on the cliffs of Newport, R.I. Contrary to all weather reports, there was not a drop of rain and the dramatic clouds over the Atlantic parted to let the sun through, like shafts of light from Heaven.
It was such a joy to share this milestone with our only daughter that I almost turned a blind eye to the fact that a Catholic university had invited Vice President Joe Biden's wife, Jill Biden, a woman so radically pro-abortion that even most abortion supporters parted ways with her by the end of the first trimester. At 12 weeks gestation, babies have human faces, fully formed hands and feet and are practicing sucking and swallowing. Even if one were not Catholic, the humanity of the victims of this legal form of genocide is obvious to most people of good will. The Catechism of the Catholic Church is the official source of doctrine. It could not be more clear about the Catholic stance on the killing of defenseless babies. Part III, Section II, Chapter 2, Article 5, Line 2258 reads:
"Human life must be respected and protected absolutely from the moment of conception. From the first moment of his existence, a human being must be recognized as having the rights of a person -- among which is the inviolable right of every innocent being to life." Though the current administration is diametrically in opposition with the Catholic Church about other social issues, such as gay marriage and the ethics of fetal research, the issue most likely to divide a room today, is abortion. While in theory, it should be an honor to have the second lady of the United States speak at one's child's college graduation, it clearly was not. Surprisingly, there were no protests, signs or outward displays of displeasure, if one ignores that only about a quarter of the crowd stood up when Biden's most zealous fans attempted to give her luke-warm, election-season, literary-device-filled speech a standing ovation.
I am as guilty as every other parent. I read the information about Mrs. Biden, registered a vague sense of surprise and then went on to the nuts and bolts planning of our daughter's big day. Flowers, lunch reservations, accommodations and gifts clouded out the moral issue that should probably have precluded any practicing Catholic from showing up without a sign in hand. But true to our conservative nature and compulsion for decorum, the silent majority remained silent. I do not think that the Muslims at Islamic American University would have done the same if their guest speaker had been the wife of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netenyahu. And I do not think that an appearance by Mrs. David Duke of the KKK would have been met with polite acceptance at Howard University, or even Brandeis.
It struck me as we left graduation that after four years of a very expensive education, the one lesson we may have accidentally taught our daughter was the wrong one. We stayed focused on the positive during our celebratory lunch with grandparents. Serious topics were reserved for "a more appropriate time." I just hope that our post-celebration words left a deeper mark than the ones we did not say, when they might have made a more powerful impression.

(Silent majority stays silent, decorous - Nashoba Publishing)

~Meggy

Magic Puppy: A Forest Charm

A Book Review by Magdalen Aithne Arkwright

This children's book was handed to me by a boy I babysit twice a week and he offered, quite out of the blue, to let me borrow it if I wanted.  I suppose I picked it up a few times when it was sitting out on the table, but all I was doing was occupying my hands.  I admit, the cover is arresting.  It's green with shiny stars all over it and right in the middle is a white West Highland terrier puppy with big blue eyes.  Not one to be rude, I accepted the offer and brought it home with me.

Magic Puppy: A Forest Charm has a dog bone proudly displaying the number six on its spine, so it is probably the sixth in its series.  However, I didn't feel as though I was missing out on anything.  All the necessary information was in the book.

It was written by Sue Bentley with occasional illustrations by Angela Swan.  It is a cute story about a magic wolf who turns into a puppy - both for convenience and for disguise.  Another magic wolf is out after Storm, our adorable protagonist - Shadow wants to lead the pack, but as long as Storm is alive, the pack will want to follow him.  Storm leaves his world for ours to grow in "strength and wisdom" before he fights Shadow.  Along the way, he cheers up a young girl who is going on a team-building camping trip with her parents and her father's coworkers' families.  Cassie Yorke attempts to make friends with the other girl on her team, but Mr. Ronson and his daughter Erin are a little haughty!  Erin feels physically tricked by fate - but is it possible she's still useful?

Grammatically speaking, it was lacking here and there.  Once or twice, the pronoun was unclear.  Some of the lines are cliches and the theme and feel are common and dull.  However, as a children's book, it was satisfactory.  The author demonstrated competency in her writing and plot line, and the vocabulary was not too simple nor too complicated for the intended age group, which is about up to third grade.

Overall, I was satisfied.  It was neither too dull or silly and kept me interested enough for my tired mind (which is currently on autopilot) to read and comprehend.  I would recommend it to young readers.

~Meggy

A Romance

A romance now I must relay.

I’ll do it soon, without delay!

Give me now Thy hand to kiss

While I tell of my soul’s secret bliss.

There once was a king in fine command

Who had a great son whom he fed with his hand

And this Prince was handsome and generous and kind

And was like his father in body and mind

The two were so alike and their love grew

No one could love as much as those two!

And all the townspeople watched with pleasure

When the Prince rode home from battle, all weathered.

One day this Prince, looking down on the street,

Saw a poor pauper girl, in mud knee-deep.

There was mud in her hair and mud on her dress

And she hadn’t any food, or stockings, no less!

And within the Prince’s bosom a fire enkindled

As he looked with love out the castle window;

His heart was ravished by one look from this girl

In one moment she was more precious than pearls.

Away rode the messenger to bring her the news

That she herself the Prince did choose

If she would consent to his bride be,

He’d make her his Queen and sovereign lady.

The girl didn’t hesitate, though she was confused

She hurried along without stockings or shoes

She washed and changed into golden things

And, just like that, she was led to the King.

The King, without knowledge of his son’s love

As soon as he saw her knew she was the one

He led her to the Queen, who gave her jewels.

And sent her to the Prince without more ado

And as the prince beheld his lovely bride

His heart burst with joy, and he almost died

He fell on his knees and held up a ring

And her solemn “yes” made his heart sing.

This poor pauper girl is now a Queen

And profoundly loves her husband and King

He sings to her softly, sometimes, at night

And loves his Queen with all his might.

I close the book with wonder and grace

And imagine the Prince with love in his face

But then I stop, for lo! can it be?

The story is really of Jesus and me!

-By Kathleen Felder

To read more great poems, read the Warrenton Quarterly!

~Meggy

[Note: I am in no way affiliated with this poem.]

Cleaning Out My Inbox:

                                                                            +  November 17, 2010

    "Do you wish to study to your advantage?  Let devotion accompany all your  studies.  Consult God…Ask Him to make you understand what you read."
     --St. Vincent Ferrer


    Dear CHC Students,

Have you ever thought what a gift it is to be homeschooled?

Think of the blessings that you would probably miss if you were not schooled at home:


You have a shorter school day.You don't have to ride a noisy school bus, or get up early to catch it!Your mom's cooking is much better than cafeteria food.The subjects and books that you study help you grow closer to Jesus and your family, rather than draw you away from Jesus and your family.You can begin the day with Holy Mass, or with prayer at home.If you don't understand an assignment, you can get help right away, and from someone who loves you.
Another blessing is this: you probably understand that, right now, school is your vocation; studying well and learning can be done for God's glory.  And studying well will help prepare you for your life's vocation as well.  Maybe you already are hearing a call from God, perhaps to the priesthood or religious life.  Because you are schooled at home, it is easier to begin preparations now.  You might begin a study of Latin, or learn about religious life in ways that you might not be able to if you were not homeschooled.  [For example, you might be able to take a week off from school to visit a religious order without worrying about missing school.]

Here are a few tips to make your schooling even easier:


Which subject is hardest for you?  If it is O.K. with your teacher, begin the day with that subject, when your mind is fresh.  Save your favorite or easiest subjects for last.  That way you can look forward to the last subject of the day, too.Always, always eat a good breakfast and lunch.If it is O.K. with your teacher, perhaps you would like to do some of your family chores after your hardest subject is finished, and then return to school.  That will give your brain a break, and get your chores done, too!Time yourself, to see how long it takes you to finish each subject. Then challenge yourself to see if you can finish the subject in less time the next day.  [Remember to do your best each time.]  You might be surprised at how much more quickly you can finish your schoolwork when you are really focused on getting it done.  You might find that you can give yourself a shorter school day and have more time for hobbies, sports, or enrichment activities.
You can probably think of many other blessings to add to the list.  If it is O.K. with your parents, make a list of the things you like about homeschooling.  Have your parents look at the list, and then email it to theresa@chcweb.com. Please include your first name, grade, state, and permission to post your list. Each participant who submits a qualifying list of blessings will be sent a FREE e-book of their choice:

Coloring with the PsalmsMy Angel Coloring BookFrancis Story-Color BookOur Catholic Family Paper DollsHoly Papers
E-books make great Christmas gifts for siblings. Just print and wrap!

Finally, we want you to know that we have Holy Mass offered for you.  With God's graces showering down, your efforts to do your best, and parents who care about you, you are sure to succeed!

With warmest regards to each and every one of you,

Theresa Johnson
www.chcweb.com




~Meggy

Beverages

With chocolate cake, pick milk or coffee or cocoa.  With peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, carbonated drinks work fine.  Wine goes with lasagna, tea could pair with chicken, and lemonade works well with snacks.  When burgers are the meal, beer or root beer is a good bet.  Tea has to be first choice with biscuits and muffins.  So... what goes with strawberry-rhubarb pie?

Any thoughts?

~Meggy

Common English "Stumpers"

There are many words in the English language that sound similar and/or have a similar definition.

Let us start with Presume and Assume:
Presume is generally used when a fact is being assumed without any evidence to the contrary yet.  Therefore it is often used in legal cases.  'He is presumed innocent until proven otherwise.'
Assume is used when there is no evidence to either possibilities and so the one desired is chosen.  "Is he going to the fair with you?" "I assume so."
Assume and presume are usually interchangeable, and so you only need to think about it if you have a specific attitude to get across.  If you're pretty sure he's going to the fair with you, and you have no evidence otherwise, but you're not quite sure, you could use presume, to try to make that clear.  However, if you've no inclination to his actions one way or the other, you might use assume.
Even so, most people probably won't know the difference and so it likely won't matter.
http://www.englishspark.com/en/students/44-teacher-stumpers-article-1
http://www.usingenglish.com/forum/ask-teacher/21798-difference-between-assume-presume.html
"H.W. Fowler’s opinion was that in using presume, the speaker believes the supposition is true and will believe it until he learns otherwise. In using assume, the speaker feels no certainty that his supposition is true or not."- http://www.dailywritingtips.com/is-there-a-difference-between-assume-and-presume/

Another commonly confused pair is Effect and Affect.  While in speaking you don't have to think about it, you should be concerned in your writing (although, sadly, the mix up is more and more common in writing these days).
The simple answer is 'effect' is a noun and 'affect' is a verb.  It is a little more complicated than that, however, since both words have other meanings.  For example, has anyone seen 'Pirates of the Caribbean'?  Jack says, "Not without my effects."  Note 'effects'.  You can also use 'effect' as a verb when it means 'to bring about' or 'to accomplish' (usually used with 'change').  I will refer to the following:
http://public.wsu.edu/~brians/errors/affect.html
http://www.google.com/search?q=define+affect&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8&aq=t&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&client=firefox-a#hl=en&client=firefox-a&hs=ij6&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&q=affect&tbs=dfn:1&tbo=u&sa=X&ei=Ya7_TZf9B6jk0QGRyczSAw&ved=0CBkQkQ4&bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.&fp=951dc7972bfd90fb&biw=1024&bih=605


- http://grammar.quickanddirtytips.com/affect-versus-effect.aspx


Acapella, A Capella, or A Cappella?  Well, the answer is actually quite simple.  The first is American, the second is Latin, and the third is Italian.  Since music usually uses Italian words, the third is the one you want to go with.  The Latin is acceptable, however, but the first is a common American spelling and is usually considered wrong.
http://public.wsu.edu/~brians/errors/acapella.html



Which brings me to another one: accept and except.  This one seems obvious - accept means 'to include or receive'; except can take the place of 'but' and means 'leaving out'.  'Except' can also mean 'to leave out': "He excepted the twins." - http://englishplus.com/grammar/00000168.htm So remember this last definition and you're golden!
http://www.elearnenglishlanguage.com/difficulties/acceptexcept.html

Altogether and All Together: "They are all together," and, "They are altogether ridiculous."  The second is an adverb, the first is an adjective, in simplest terms.

Note about Adviser and Advisor: same thing!
http://www.beedictionary.com/common-errors/adviser_vs_advisor
http://public.wsu.edu/~brians/errors/adviser.html
http://www.englishrules.com/writing/2005/adviser-or-advisor/ - this also clears up 'documentor' or 'documenter'

As for Fiance and Fiancee, the first is the male, the second is the female.  That is, 'fiance' is the male who is betrothed; 'fiancee' is the woman to whom he is betrothed.
http://www.beedictionary.com/common-errors/fiance_vs_fiancee
http://public.wsu.edu/~brians/errors/fiance.html
http://www.writing.com/main/books/entry_id/306904

And now for perhaps the toughest one: Who and Whom.  (*Lightning flashes, thunder rolls.*)  Easiest part: 'who' is the subject of the sentence, 'whom' is the direct object of the sentence.  However, replacing 'sentence' with 'phrase' works better for, in fact, "The police gave tickets to whoever had parked in front of the fire hydrant."  'Whoever' is the subject of the phrase 'whoever had parked', the subject of the action 'had parked'.
A good test is the substitute method.  "He had parked," or "Him had parked"?  The correct pronoun doesn't have a 'M' so neither does 'who'.  Use this test with 'he' and 'him' even when the subject was a girl for easiest results.
http://public.wsu.edu/~brians/errors/who.html
http://web.ku.edu/~edit/whom.html

A few other notes: while avoiding prepositions at the end of phrases and sentences is a noble effort, it is not always practical ("This is the kind of English up with which I will not put.").  Also, although split infinitives are often scorned, there is no real reason why you can't put a word between 'to' and the verb: "To boldly go where no man has gone before," or, "To go boldly where no man has gone before."  The only reason you might keep an infinitive "together" is for flow.
For more "non-errors" see wsu.edu/~brians/errors/nonerrors.html

Awhile or a while?  Use 'a while' when in a prepositional phrase.
http://www.beedictionary.com/common-errors/a_while_vs_awhile
http://public.wsu.edu/~brians/errors/awhile.html

Irregardless is not a word!

To understand the difference of 'began' and 'begun', see http://www.beedictionary.com/common-errors/began_vs_begun

By the way, criteria is plural.  Criterion is singular.
http://www.beedictionary.com/common-errors/criteria_vs_criterion
http://www.ossweb.com/criteria-or-criterion.html

Have you ever confused Remuneration with Renumeration?  ...No, neither have I.  However, just so you know, the first simply means 'payment', not 'repayment' as is often supposed; while the second means 're-counting' or counting again.
http://www.beedictionary.com/common-errors/remuneration_vs_renumeration

Hey, born and borne?
"This distinction is a bit tricky. When birth is being discussed, the past tense of “bear” is usually “born”: “I was born in a trailer—but it was an Airstream.” Note that the form used here is passive: you are the one somebody else—your mother—bore. But if the form is active, you need an “E” on the end, as in “Midnight has borne another litter of kittens in Dad’s old fishing hat” (Midnight did the bearing).But in other meanings not having to do with birth, “borne” is always the past tense of “bear”: “My brother’s constant teasing about my green hair was more than could be borne.”" - http://www.beedictionary.com/common-errors/born_vs_borne
On the following site, someone made this good point: "when you're talking about where something came from (e.g. "laws are born of ideas"), the analogy is to childbirth, so you use "born."" - http://ask.metafilter.com/10315/Borne-of-or-borne-from

Also, 'reoccur'?  - Is not a word.

http://www.beedictionary.com/common-errors/afterall_vs_after_all says that "after all" is always two words, as does everything else I can find.  However, I think if you were to say, "I guess it worked out afterall," I'd be okay with you putting it together.  Even so, it worked out after all that had happened.  So your pick - shall we be English pioneers or shall we stay with the old fashioned ways?

Now for just a few more homophones (some aren't really homophones):
advice - remember, the 'C' is soft.  This is a noun.
advise - the 'S' sounds like a 'Z'.  This a verb

site - a location
cite - to reference

decent - kind etc.
descent - going down, family origins
dissent - disagreement with prevailing view

Then and Than are especially annoying to me when I see them used incorrectly - 'than' compares, 'then' refers to time or space.

wander - to walk
wonder - to think and contemplate etc.

If you have any further troubles with English, let me know.  I'll try to clear it up! (< another usage of a preposition that must come at the end)

~Meggy

Rebecca - a Book Review

A Book Review by Magdalen Aithne Arkwright

Du Maurier's novel Rebecca is a fair example of good literature.  It is a sort of "fairytale gone wrong".  The princess comes from among the peasants, which is common, but she marries a murderer.  More to the point, the plot never veers off course but rather builds the story perfectly.  While in first person, the word 'I' is not overused, whereas actually Du Maurier's choice of words adds to the dramatic feel all around.  She doesn't fall susceptible to the use of humor to break up the heavy reality of the story but makes certain we understand how repulsive the situation is.  The plot is serious and moving; however, it is not ridiculously dramatic.  Without losing the reader's interest, Du Maurier is skilled in inserting long passages of the protagonist's contemplation, lengthening the narrative and adding to the very real feeling of emotional battle - a hard skill to come by.

One thing to take notice is Du Maurier's decision not to mention the main character's name.  The only name she's given is Mrs. deWinter.  Interestingly enough, Du Maurier seems to want to bring this to the attention of her reader.  She mentions that the character's name is unique but never actually gives the name.  Within the confines of the narration, Mr. deWinter never says it either, often calling her 'darling' instead.

The main character, also the narrator, meets Mr. deWinter in France while a paid companion to a a snobby lady.  Mr. deWinter falls in love with her, though in his forties and the young woman just out of school - not to mention Mr. deWinter's wife has been dead less than a year.  Rebecca's death still tortures Mr. deWinter, but the narrator gives light to his life again.  The narrator is very shy and nervous, but trials throughout the story cause a change, however slight, noticeable to the analytic reader.  In the end, she faces the housekeeper, who fights against our protagonist, and reveals her true strength.  Even so, she first has to deal with the reality that Maxim (Mr. deWinter) doesn't really love her after all.  Throughout most of the story, however, our heroine struggles with being the second wife after a very beautiful and social woman.  Still, Rebecca does not turn out to be all she seems to be.  Perhaps Mr. deWinter's moods are not from longing and sorrow.  Perhaps he really does love his new bride.  It's just possible.

Another interesting bit of Rebecca is the conflict would appear to drag a very long time - right to the end of the book in fact.  In reality, for our protagonist, the conflict ends when she realizes Rebecca's real role in both the life she used to live and in the lives of those she left behind.  However, the conflict drags on for others, and the troubles are never really resolved.  At least, not entirely - murder is not something from which someone can simply move on.  Furthermore, the story ends before there is a resolution.  But upon further thought, the reader ought to realize that Du Maurier places the resolution in the front!

As to the correctness of the characters' actions, well, it's obvious that Maxim's murder of Rebecca was wrong; and furthermore, he doesn't regret Rebecca's death - understandable but ugly.  Lastly, he covers it up and avoids the consequences.  On the other hand, I do not approve of capital punishment, as it makes us one like our victims and cuts short the murderer's time to repent and make reparation.  Furthermore, Maxim, while capable of killing someone else, as we all are, wouldn't - for any obvious reason - seem inclined to and so isn't dangerous.  As wrong and morally dangerous as the whole thing is, a different sort of ending would have been disappointing and disgusting.  Morally correct, perhaps, however, but as it is, Maxim suffers for the rest of his life because of his action, which is punishment itself.  Frequently, he turns pale, looks pained, and doesn't want to be reminded of anything concerning Rebecca's death.  Also, his wife, friend, and possibly a man of law also cover up for him.  While the decisions are morally questionable, morality is not the question.  The theme is not a question of whether Maxim's actions were justified or not, but rather, how trials make one tested and true, which is actually mentioned in the second chapter of the book.  All in all, Rebecca by Daphne Du Maurier is a fine piece of literature with my high recommendation.

I especially recommend the Recorded Books audio version, read by Alexandra O'Karma.

Planned Parenthood

Among those I saw on the lists were Yo-Yo Ma, Tony Bennett, Mary Tyler Moore, Demi Moore, Ewan McGregor, and Carl Reiner, as well as Ben and Jerry's.  There were others I recognized and many I didn't.  Some I expected, some I saw and had to sigh.  There's a rumor that Mary Kay supports Planned Parenthood, but I've found no evidence to back it up.


http://www.fightpp.org/show.cfm?page=celebrity
http://www.fightpp.org/show.cfm?page=boycott
http://www.christiannewswire.com/news/904871901.html

Check it out, and consider adding these people to your prayers.

~Meggy

Black Fly Bites

As you may have guessed from a previous post (about four posts back I think), I was recently camping.  Black flies were still very abundant in this area and I got bitten at least once every foot or so along my body.  I can ignore the impulse to scratch and most are not really a problem unless one is very determined to be noticed which they usually all are at one point throughout the day.

The only one that is really a problem is one right next to my right eye on the side of my nose.  Yesterday morning, I saw in the looking glass that my right eye was half closed on one side.  Since I was going out that morning, I fretted what to do and I looked it up online.  I did not have much time before I had to leave and found nothing especially helpful for my case, although I found a site that was informative on many different kinds of bites complete with pictures.

However, I had dealt with bee stings before and I knew that baking soda brought down the swelling and erased the other mild symptoms.  So I quickly stirred it together with some water and went on my way, holding it on a tissue to my eye as we went.

It's swollen a little this morning, but the message of the story is baking soda works on everything.  I rubbed off the hardened baking soda mix on my arrival and looked almost as good as new.  My hair was a bit unkempt and my bangs hung down in front of my eyes a little so it hid the mark well and I was very pleased, if still very tired from camping and hurrying about.

There is no set recipe, so far as I know.  I believe that the water is just to make the baking soda into a sticky paste so that it doesn't get all over the place like flour, although I could easily believe that the water initiates the properties you so desire.  However it may be, it works very well and the bite didn't bother me again until late that day.  If you have any insect bites, I highly recommend you try this.

~Meggy

Did you hear about the lunar eclipse????

I totally missed it!  I think I heard it was at 5ish???

Toy Story 3 - a Movie Review

 By Magdalen Aithne Arkwright

An awesome comeback!  Woody and the crew burst into the theaters for yet another great film.  In keeping with the original feel and message of the film, the gang wrestle with being neglected as Andy gets older.  Woody holds true to the message he learned the hard way twice - "What's important is that we're here for Andy when he needs us."  But Andy's going to college now and their future remains unclear.  Attic, or trash?  Or maybe college, if they're lucky.  The gang suffer a horrible blow to their self-worth, although Woody assures them it's all a mistake.  They end up at a daycare - yes! tons of kids!  But the novelty of Sunnyside quickly wears off.  How will they escape when an evil toy does all he can to keep them under his control?  And even if they get home, what will happen to them?

In a film that is funny, cute, and mirrors the previous films, all audiences will leave happy.  Skeptics who saw the promotions on Disney Channel will walk out absolutely amazed at what Pixar has done with this.  This movie is not only amusing and reminiscent but is also heart wrenching, and will make you want to dig out your old toys.

Heavier and darker than the first two films, I rate it D (see side panel).  It sounds silly but it's done well and the viewer can really enjoy meeting the gang again.  The theme ties in with the other movies, connecting them all as they should be, and though the drama is a little rough, I believe it is necessary for the film.  Overall, I see 10 out of 10 points.

~Meggy

An Ode to a Very Dear Friend

C
You are my sunshine, my only sunshine.
C                    F                                  C
You make me happy, when skies are gray.
C                 F                                  C             Am
You’ll never know dear, how much I love you.
                   C           G            C
Please don’t take my sunshine away.


~Meggy
("Well, it's definitely a lot." <3)

Narnia - Voyage of the Dawn Treader

A Movie Review by Magdalen Aithne Arkwright

I've put off reviewing this one.  Because it was based on a well-known and popular novel - not to mention theological - it can be hard to review to everyone's satisfaction - including my own.

It's been a long time since I've read the book, and strangely, I don't know it as well as I know many of the others.  I was warned the movie did not follow the book very well and I didn't expect it to, and so I was quite pleased with the movie.  However, the more the plot is analyzed, the more it falls apart.

Even so, the characters reigned true and Will Poulter performed Eustace phenomenally.  The idea of being tempted and overcoming the temptation is a theme throughout the movie.  King Caspian is looking for the nine lost lords and their fates are much the same as they were in book, with some alterations.

Really however, the main conflict is not with themselves and temptation, as you might expect, but rather with "the mist" which takes people... somewhere.  This introduces a man and his daughter, who's wife/mother respectively was taken by the mist.  The man is allowed to join Caspian's crew to find her and his daughter stows away.  The father's remark, "What are you doing here?" when she is discovered is the dumbest line in the movie.  The part the daughter plays in the rest of the movie is unnecessary and small - the father's is practically not existent.  Perhaps the director wanted the audience to feel the victory over the mist more personal by making it a family reunion, but if so, this goal was not accomplished, and the part the father and daughter play is arguably the weakest link in the chain of the movie.

With holes in the plot and change in the main goal of the story, the movie is weak when analyzed but enjoyable otherwise.  Girls will like how mature Edmund has become and will still swoon over Caspian.  Lucy has grown up quite a bit too and, as a side note, it is remarkable how much she actually looks like Susan.  Reepicheep is perhaps the most endearing character in the movie, right from the start.

I give the movie 8/10 with points off for plot and overall satisfaction.  Rating: D (see sidebar)

~Meggy

Babysitting

Crying, whining, screaming, complaining... and, finally, laughing.  Some look at the long day behind us and wonder that I go on with it without complaint myself.  Some may shake their heads incredulously when they see me pick up and cuddle a baby with a tantrum.  Many don't understand how I can respond in frustration and stress, but still smile when it's all over and say I loved it.

Truly, it's not hard to understand.  I am surrounded by the tantrums of more "mature" people and they are much more difficult to handle.  Although young adults and adults don't usually kick or scream, their tantrums are far more complicated and are usually not as short.  A child may kick and scream, but if you hold him and patiently wait out his frustration, he is soon comforted, and he likes you the better for it.

Even when a toddler is most annoyingly crying for no obvious reason, or if you have scolded him and he cries, you hold him and he feels he is not abandoned or hated, and he is more likely to recover quickly.  Or so has been my experience.

My god brother calls me "Mumma!" and quite frankly wishes I could give him what only his mother can - but I cannot.  He is about one and half years old and he loves to spend his time with me - or rather, he loves to spend my time with him.  He wants to watch as I dice onions for dinner or mix cookie dough (you ought to have seen him as he proudly handed me bits of onion to add to the pot), he wants to sit in my lap when he's exhausted and on the verge of falling asleep, and he wants to hold my bracelet up to my ear and prompt me, "Heeello!" (although he'd rather use a phone or remote if he can get his hands on one).

He was quite cranky today, since his mother was away all day and he often falls asleep while nursing.  Although he made it clear he wanted to both nurse and take a nap, he was unable to nurse and so did not nap.  But whenever he was on the verge of crashing, I picked him up and held him until a new delight took hold of his mind.  Then he would point, saying, "Coo, boo," and all manner of other noises.

Finally, it was somewhere between nine and half-past when he sat contentedly on my lap.  I should have noticed the signs, but perhaps I was too tired myself to interpret them.  He was cheerful and merry, and had lots of those big grins to offer me, the peanut.  He volunteered for a diaper change, and then we sat on the couch together, playing with the radio.  He loved pressing the buttons and hearing the result.  Sometimes he wasn't happy with the result and he'd give the power to me to fix it.  I should have been surprised when he gave it to me and didn't want it back.  He was getting restless, but he never once got off my lap.  Then, it was rather sudden.  He was somehow lying on his stomach across my lap with his cheek pressed against the cushion.  He lay there a moment and I watched his eyes flutter.  At first this meant nothing.  How often he seemed to do that so that I didn't expect much.  But then his eyes got heavier.  I kept rubbing his back and soon, the first snore.

He won't fall asleep on just anyone, and that makes all the patience and effort and time worth it - just seeing him cling to me whenever he's at his weakest.

~Meggy

"Be back in a bit, my flower!" (Tangled Analysis - Mother Gothel)

Mother Gothel found her elixir of life in a magic golden flower.  Singing to the flower made her young over and over, and she lived in youth for hundreds of years.  Yet, she kept this gift to herself, forcing the king to send search parties for this flower.  Miraculously, the flower was found, and it healed the queen.  Consequently, the baby princess was born with healing power in her hair.  Mother Gothel suspected this and tried to cut the princess's hair.  But it lost its power when it was cut!  Mother Gothel kidnapped the princess and raised her as her own in a hidden tower.

This seems like a pretty awful thing to do, but does she ever come to value Rapunzel for Rapunzel and not just as an antidote to age?

If you've seen the whole movie, you'd probably be anxious to say no, but perhaps the matter deserves some thought first.

Let's face it, Mother Gothel is not the nicest or most selfless of characters.  That being said, maybe she does love Rapunzel - as much as she could be expected to.  Doesn't she want to make Rapunzel's favorite for dinner?  Doesn't she agree to go on a three-day trip in order to get her birthday present?  Doesn't she claim to have Rapunzel's best interests at heart?

Now we have to figure out if she really did have the best of intentions for Rapunzel.  One clue is she says, "I love you very much, dear," and she seems to have sympathy for Rapunzel when Rapunzel agrees to stay in the tower.  However, Mother Gothel declares that Rapunzel has to stay in the tower and must never ask to leave again - because she doesn't want to loose Rapunzel, or because she doesn't want to loose Rapunzel's hair?  Could it possibly be because she thinks Rapunzel will get hurt and have her heart broken?

"I'll be back in a bit, my flower!"  "You know I hate leaving you alone after a fight, dear, especially when I've done absolutely nothing wrong." (not exact quotes)  After we have been introduced to Rapunzel as a teenager, we meet Mother Gothel, and her words here to Rapunzel are a clue as well.  "Rapunzel, Mother's feeling a little run down.  Would you sing for me, dear?  Then we'll talk."  She appears more interested in her own concerns than she is in Rapunzel's.

The concluding proof is her reaction to Rapunzel's revelation that she is the lost princess, and also that she keeps Rapunzel from Eugene - even to the point where she must mortally wound Eugene.  It is obvious that this life that Rapunzel had discovered - her royalty and her love - are right for Rapunzel.  Mother Gothel's only reason for her actions is her selfishness.  This becomes quite obvious in this last scene with Mother Gothel.

So if you thought that Mother Gothel's interest in Rapunzel was of selfishness, you were probably right.  It's hard to say whether Mother Gothel wasn't otherwise attached to Rapunzel, but it should be safe to say that this deeper feeling is lacking considerably.

As a side note, Rapunzel still loves her "mother", in some fashion - Mother Gothel fell out the window, but not without horror and worry from Rapunzel.

~Meggy