Tuesday, August 30, 2011

Summer Sweet Speculation

My friends, this is the thirtieth of August (and 8:41 or 20:41).  Tomorrow will be the last of the month.  For some, summer is over already.  For others, summer ends next week.  For still others, school doesn't disrupt their summer until the week after that.  And for a select few who are indescribably optimistic, summer doesn't end until it says so on the calender, or even until every night for a month hits freezing.  For me, autumn was here the first morning with that familiar, embracing chill.

I remember when my brother and two sisters got off, summer had started for them.  I went on working.  I love small children, and sadly I let myself get used and found myself babysitting children for free more often than I was doing my studies.  Friday morning, I drove myself and my brother down to guitar, and when I got back and I wanted to do anything but finish that day's allotment, and don't remind me of that on which I am behind.  Scrambling together, here and there, I finished the last sections on some tests and papers, rewrote incomplete works, and loaded tests that didn't go all through the first time.  But that wasn't until later.

Summer "holiday", as it's known in London, Ontario, hadn't even really started when we visited there in August.  Three religion tests hung over my head like death sentences in three different systems (Star Wars reference).  Even now, I have one that I never even started.  Looking over the lesson plans, I am convinced I never finished reading the material.

But it's cool, man.  One of the things I love about home schooling is its flexibility.  I can still live a life and study at the same time.  I did learn everything in those courses.  What difference does time frame make?

I can remember, we took a rainy camping trip in New Hampshire.  Some friends of ours had been there long, and they were in a tent.  With four children beneath their teen years, they were less then enthralled with their experience.  Even so, we made good memories.  Sad memories, too, as often happens in my experience of camping trips.  The inability to get away from cranky people makes camping difficult, but we did make it through.

All July we stayed close to home.  The annual pool party was called off and never rescheduled.  My vegetable garden was mostly abandoned and its inspiring growth faltered.  Supper club at the Wojnas' every Wednesday was a good way to get out of the house.  I turned seventeen.  I fell asleep that night and every night under the picture of my "long gone" best friends (each gone in different ways and for different reasons).  I drove myself, my brother, and one of my sisters down to my paternal grandparents' house for the hottest weekend of the year, and we went to the beach for the first and only time this summer.  My brother started trumpet lessons.  I wrote more songs on my guitar, finished writing others, and came to the end of the extent of my guitar teacher's guitar fluency.

In August, I began voice lessons.  I became co-consultant with my mother and sister for Thirty-One Bags.  The possibility of teaching guitar was discussed.  Both my sisters had birthdays.  My youngest sister, my roommate, "moved out" temporarily and stayed with my paternal grandmother while our cousins were there.  I started to move all my stuff into the living room, only to clean it up the night before she came back.  I started school the Monday after the supplies arrived, and finished two last-year religion tests in three days.

Now it's almost September.  Looking back upon the lost bits of lifetime, I regret none.  I've struggled, against things and against people, and I've broken down, crying, and I've cried out to God, "What am I doing?"  I've wondered, "There must be more to life with God than this festering millpond of barely more than lukewarm mindfulness."  Daily Mass and weekly Adoration have yet pulled me through.  Even on those days that are toughest on zombies, I got through them, and now here I sit.  Mayhap, I am still a rather worse for wear, but I am weathering it out.

It brings to mind a hill of heather on a moor in the Land Across the Sea....  But I digress.

Something else I've just recalled is my robin nest.  I do not recollect who first spotted it, but that robin had two broods in there, and, sadly, only one chick outwore all dangers.

Yesterday, I was clearing out the back woods from the debris still hanging out back there, left from the ice storm that came through a few years ago.  I found three red-backed salamanders and put them in our old aquarium in an old, shallow flower pot.  Furthermore, with the help of my "baby" sister, I cleared out the branches, logs, and leaves around one of the protruding boulders and, although such a small area, it looked quite nice already.  I'd like to plant some pansies or mums, and mums would probably be best for this season.

What else might I relate?

In July, shortly after my birthday, I was finally able to assemble the first meeting of our Theology of the Body for Teens meeting.  I have attended to the one for adults and I am familiar with more than the teen edition covers; however, this text was written to penetrate on my level.  I can not express enough gratitude to those who have been even-tempered, extensible, and synergetic with your schedule.

Every morning, when I pull the curtains back from my window, I see a branch of ugly, yellow-orange sticking defiantly out among the green.  And yet, in a few weeks more, among all the bright red and orange leaves, that branch will highlight and complement the others so beautifully and effortlessly.  I think those who take that first step to change are like that.  They're not always very appealing or appreciated, but when blended by all the others who follow their lead, they add to the beauty.  And yet, they haven't become as glorious and vibrant as some of these later arrivals, and they will likely be unremembered for running the gauntlet.

But I always get philosophical after twenty-two hours.  Have you ever tried to type out a tale at late hours?  I often find that I have to throw out anything I have composed late at night.  The scenes are repeatedly emotional or out-of-character for my protagonists.  I've even had the worst of antagonists become sympathetic to his victim.  End of story eight chapters too soon!

Well, please, if you have a chance to recall that which has happened to you this summer, I am most interested in your Summer Sweet Speculation.

^Oh wow.
Good night, y'all

~Meggy

Saturday, August 27, 2011

Murder by Death

A Movie Review by Magdalen Aithne Arkwright

So... Murder by Death.  Briefly, it's a bizarre comedy.  As are many comedies, there is some touchy content.  However, the content is not actually presented for laughter, but only to add more confusion.

The basic point of the movie, as I can see it, is to make fun of mystery stories, and it does this so very well.  The viewer walks away not sure of what's really the truth and what's really just show.  Who is the real mastermind behind this murder?  And who was really murdered?  And who did the actual killing?  Are there any answers in this movie?

Sir Alec Guinness and Peter Faulk grace the screen in this one, in a twisting plot that draws an endless circle in your mind.  Bizarre.  Hysterical!  Confusing and, almost, endearing.  And what female wouldn't have an amusing attraction to Diamond?

Unlike many of the time, I do not credit Neil Simon with great writing skills.  He is witty, but this literature scholar is not highly impressed.  However, excluding preteens and all younger, this could be an amusing watch.  There are some swears - one against Our Lord.  There is also reference to a sleazy joint (and homosexuality).

This film none-the-less receives 7/10.  This is definitely T rated (see sidebars).

~Meggy

Tuesday, August 23, 2011

Autumn

Yesterday morning, shortly before 8 AM, I stepped down out of our Nisan Armada into the parking lot outside Saint Bernard Parish in Saint Camilis Church.  It was the first time I had experienced the morning air that day and I was shocked, and admittedly pleased, with the brisk chill I was met with.  I felt that refreshing chill in the air all that day, although it reached almost eighty.  I felt it today as well.

It is the chill of autumn!

I love autumn - in fact, it is my favorite season.  I love that chill.  I also love sweaters and capris (although I was recently informed that my definition of capris is wrong) and hot cocoa.  I can't wait until I get a chance to take my guitar outside, sit on the front steps, and pick a tune.  I'll be wearing a sweater and "capris", my braid-wavy hair blowing back gently away from my face, and not far away will be the bright colors of my newly planted Mums.

That's another thing - I love my garden.  My vegetable garden didn't get proper attention this summer and so isn't fully grown, but I haven't given up on it, which I have named "Sleepy Garden".  The flower gardens, however, have bloomed at, what seems to me, strange times this year, but I don't mind because summer flew by me and now it's the end of August, so I'm sure I just lost track of time.  Still, we didn't get the usual excess of Black-Eyed-Susans and Daisies.  Our Rose of Sharon has attracted a very thrill couple of Hummingbirds, however, which I'm thankful for.

Today was an interesting day.  I killed the car battery, got my mom to buy me a book while we waited for AAA, and got out to the parking lot just in time for my dad to drive up and help us out (interestingly enough, we had our hood open and no one offered help, even the three or four guys who drove by - and I wasn't confident enough in my jump-starting abilities).  I also went to the music store, ordered Lord of the Rings sheet music for my brother, whose birthday is in November, and bought guitar book three - finally.  I can't wait to get started on it!

Furthermore, I love Gordon Lasalle.  It is such a comfortable little shop, even for someone like me who is uncomfortable in her own home when strangers are over.  The guy there today was attractive to!  He is a classical guitar major graduate who was impressed with the musical interest and talent of my brother's and mine.  He was very kind and helpful.

Furthermore, we went to an independent computer service store where they had Macbooks for sale for just under $500!  That's what I had been saving up for so we jumped at the chance.  I paid half with the babysitting money I'd earned, and I haven't regretted it yet.  (BTW, Jim Whatshisname was a nice guy as well.)  This computer is, so far, the computer of my dreams and I'm looking forward to blogging on it further in future.  (For example, I got home, clicked on the Firefox icon and was instantly given options for the Internet connection.  I typed in the password and I've been connected since!  I've never had that much cooperation with Internet connections.)

I hope the end of your summer has been as exciting and pleasant as mine!  Tell me about it in a comment!

~Meggy

Monday, August 22, 2011

How to Train Your Dragon

A movie review by Magdalen Aithne Arkwright

If you read the book it was based on, you know it is less than inspirational.  However, like many book-based movies, this movie, fortunately, had little in similar to the book.

Hiccup is an endearing character.  Even some of the things that would be stumbling blocks usually are handled well, though perhaps just barely.  They had a lot of fun with this movie and it shows.  I was pleasantly surprised by this movie and fell in love with the characters almost instantly.  I certainly wouldn't mind owning it.

This movie earned a nine out of ten with 100% satisfaction.  My rating is A, but some parents may be concerned depending on the child.




~Meggy

A fun game to play -

I found this on Raindrops and Moonlight and loved it.  I loved reading her answers.  So, characters from a fandom...?  Well, not sure all of these qualify as a fandom - but who cares! XD  Here goes:

List twelve characters from any fandom, then answer the questions below.

1.  Aslan (The Chronicles of Narnia)
2.  Jane (Jane and the Dragon)
3.  Blanche (The Shadow of the Bear)
4.  Howl (Howl's Moving Castle)
5.  Sophie (of course!)
6.  Mrs. De Winter (Rebecca)
7.  King Alfred (The Ballad of the White Horse)
8.  Jane (Boston Jane)
9.  Hiccup (How to Train Your Dragon)
10.  Sawako Kuronuma (Kimi ni Todoke)
11.  Percy Jackson (Percy Jackson and the Olympians)
12.  Nancy Drew

1.  Who would make a better  college professor, 6 or 11?
Mrs. De Winter vs. Percy
That's hard, but I think Mrs. De Winter would be able to handle that.

2.  Do you think 2 is cute?
Jane?  Uh... not really.  Shoulda put someone cute on the list in hindsight.

3.  12 sends 8 out on a mission.  What is it? Does it succeed?
Definitely not.  If you read Nancy Drew, you know that quite often, her friends don't really succeed in their mission.  Not to mention that Jane Peck is not known for getting things done without incident.

4.  What is or would be 9's favorite book?
For Hiccup - Probably something like Dragon Rider or a book on how to draw dragons - although he's quite good at that already.

5.  Would it make more sense for 2 to swear fealty to 6, or the other way around? 
Yes, definitely.  Jane is a knight in training, and Mrs. De Winter has married into wealth and rank.

6.  For some reason, 5 is looking for a roommate.  Should (s)he room with 9 or 10?
Oh, I think Sophie would have to room with Sawako, not Hiccup.  Still, Sawako and Sophie are complete opposites - do you think that would help them get along?

7.  2, 7, and 12 are going out for dinner.  Where do they go and what do they discuss?
That would be an interesting dinner party.  Nancy and Jane are sort in common in that they're independent and like to solve mysteries and so on.  On the other hand, Jane and King Alfred both wield a sword - and I think Jane is from England.  They probably go to an Oven-Brick Pizzeria and talk about... uh... fighting against enemies? lol

8. 3 challenges 10 to a duel.  Who wins?
Yikes!  Not only is it unlikely that Blanche would challenge anyone to a duel - as far as I can see - but with Sawako???  Those two are peas in a pod!  Blanche might have some experience because of who she knows and what she's been through; Sawako would do her best though, so, who knows?

9.  If 1 stole 8's most precious possession, would (s)he get it back?
I doubt Aslan would steal Jane's wedding dress.


10Suggest a story title in which 7 and 12 both attain what they desire.
King Alfred wants England; Nancy wants to solve all mysteries that cross her path, despite danger.  That's a tough one!  How about Defiance?  ...Maybe? lol

11.  What kind of plot device would you use if you wanted 1 and 4 to work together?
Oh, goodness, Howl would be a dead man with Aslan.  But if Howl were royal wizard to High King Peter (or one of the other kings), then they would save Narnia together.

12.  If 7 visited you for the weekend, how would it go?
I don't think it would be much fun.  Unless King Alfred would teach me to wield sword and dagger!

13.  If you could command 3 to perform any service or task for you, what would it be? 
I don't think I have anything for Blanche.

14.  Do any of your friends write or draw 11?
NO.

15.  If 2 had to choose sides between 4 and 5, what side would (s)he choose?
Pick a side between husband and wife?!  Hard!  Howl usually ends up being right, but Sophie usually has a good case.  Jane probably wouldn't pick a side, actually.  That's not her thing.

16.  What might 10 shout out while charging into battle?
Whatever everyone else was shouting - Sawako wouldn't charge into battle usually anyway.  There are no wars at her high school.


17.  If you had to choose a song to best describe 8, what would it be?
I don't know, Break Away maybe?  Perhaps I ought to write one for her.

18.  1, 6, and 12 are having a dim sum at a Chinese Restaurant.  There is only one scallion pancake left, and they all reach for it at the same time.  Who gets it?
Mrs. De Winter certainly wouldn't, and Nancy would politely offer it to Aslan, but Aslan would probably suggest the two women split it.

19.  What would be a good pickup line for 2 to say to 10?
 ...How about, "What are you doing in a potato sack?  Well, hold on tight!  I have to spin down a swinging pole!"

20.  What would 5 most likely get arrested for?
Sophie get arrested?!  Never!  But probably she'd screw something and the Witch of the Waste or somebody would have her arrested for no real reason.

21.  What is 6's secret?
Mrs. De Winter is terribly shy and afraid of the memory of Rebecca.

22.  If 11 and 9 were racing to a destination, who would get there first?
Uh, Percy?  He and Hiccup are about the same really.  Hiccup is probably younger and weaker though.  But Hiccup has a Night Fury.

23.  If you had to walk through a bad neighborhood late at night, who would you feel more comfortable walking with, 7 or 8?
Jane Peck would do nothing for me in a bad neighborhood except maybe faint.  King Alfred would be better.

24.  1 and 9 reluctantly team up to save the world from the threat posed by 4's sinister secret organization11 offers to help them, but it is later discovered that s/he is actually a spy for 4.  Meanwhile, 4 has kidnapped 12 in an attempt to force her/his surrender.  Following the wise advice of 5, they seek out 3, who gives them what they need to complete their quest.  What title would you give this fic?
Aslan teams up with Hiccup, reluctantly mind you, to save the world from Howl's sinister secret organization (I believe it!).  Percy offers to help but they later discover he's a double agent really working for Howl.  Meanwhile, Howl kidnapped Nancy to force her surrender, so they seek out Blanche on the wise advice of Sophie (oh totally), and Blanche gives them what they need to complete their quest (I could see that).
Oh, hysterical!  What about "The Unbelievable!"

(Why would Aslan need something from Blanche???)



Ah, what fun!  You should try it - it's even more fun than you think!

~Meggie

Friday, August 19, 2011

Beautiful Songs

^This one isn't exactly "beautiful" in the sense that the first one is "beautiful", but I think I've fallen in love with it.





Bonus:

Enjoy!

~Meggy
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