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Good heavens! It's autumn already! I go away for four days and this is what happens!
It's funny. Until we went to Toronto, I was posting an entry nearly every day - often time twice a day. And I, on my blog so often, was feeling a tad frustrated that there were no new entries on the blogs I follow - nor comments on mine.
Then I go away and have very little access to the web, and even less time, and there are a baker's dozen to read when I get back! How ironic is that?
..........
So I thought I'd go a little more personal today, instead of the formal stuff I've been doing, in case you non-readers have been bored - lol. If you haven't seen Jane and the Dragon, you are missing out! It's a very cute, innocent kid show on Qubo that is absolutely the sweetest kid show I've ever seen, and definitely funny.
It used to be hard to find full episodes online. Now it seems to have caught on but it's hard to find the clips I want. I'd have loved to just find a few cute clips of Jester and maybe a few funny Dragon clips, but that's too complicated so....
So if you haven't already guessed, I absolutely love the new Dreamworks picture 'Megamind'. It's really good. And I recently found a music video that I think goes with it very well:
Whoever made the video did a very good job. And actually, I first listened to it on my laptop, and I thought it sounded better than on the desktop because my speakers focused on the vocals but the desktop speakers made the instruments and the vocal a little more equal. Anyway, I liked the vocal strong sound... but that's kind of irrelevant.
Another random thought - I love driving at night. Especially on the highway. I'm starting to get better at interpreting highway signs properly and I've always been fairly confident on the highway. I took the second shift on the way to Toronto and, being tired already, it was a pill. But I took the last shift on the way home - arriving home six minutes to Friday. I loved it! And the movie choices they made in the back seat made it a very enjoyable experience - Megamind and Tangled.
Unfortunately, while we were in Toronto, I got horrible allergies. I took Tylenol pills twice - and I hate pills. Then yesterday, I took Claritin - and I was super proud of myself because I swallowed it in one try - but the pill was miniscule, so not a great victory. And it did nothing. I'm beginning to wonder - because of how overall awful I feel - if I have a cold. How does one tell the difference???
So... anyway. I'd love to hear something from you guys! Anything. Any thoughts on anything I said here - and that includes randomness since that's part of my post.
LOL
~Meggy
P.S. My mentor taught me this one. It is called 'The Hammering Song':
And since I can't seem to comment on her blog, I decided to do so here.
I love that song! So beautiful. But I don't know which is more magical - 'Once upon a time....' or '....and they lived happily ever after.' I'm living a fairy tale right now - I totally and wholeheartedly believe that. I think I have to or I'd die. I know, not the best reason to believe something, but I'm just waiting for my prince to come, and if I didn't believe that he would come, I'd be one depressed little shriveled thing. ......See.
Metro Man, an alien to our planet, has super powers which have made him the city's super hero. Time after time, he's stopped Megamind's evil schemes until he's a grown adult and tired of this repeated charade. So he quits.
"There had better be an amazing explanation for this."
The question Roxanne wonders is a more than fair question: "How could Metro Man abandon the city to the super villain?"
There's at least one obvious reason why he did it, and it's the one he gave us. He felt trapped, stuck in a rut, going over the same thing over and over again. It would be hard to blame him for feeling this way, since many of us feel this at one time or another. Many films and TV shows show the person experiencing this trying to make a change and get away from the situation. This is exactly what Metro Man does. He doesn't want the hatred of the city, so he basically "kills" himself. From then on, he lives a luxurious life, hidden under the old school house.
Another possible reason is he wanted to make music, but we don't know that he always wanted to do this. Really, too, there's no apparent reason why he can't make music while he's a super hero - the city would love it. That is, if he had any talent at all. Unfortunately, "You're horrible!" so perhaps it is best. Even so, however, Metro Man could have made music on his off time.
If either one of these was his sole reason, he would fail to be any kind of a hero. He would have given up, ceased to care about the city, and gone quite self-centered. It's natural to want something for yourself, but was it right for him to "quit his job"?
I propose one more possible reason.
"It took me a long time to find my calling. Now it's about time you find yours."
Metro Man could very well have been trying to help Megamind out. If Metro Man was in a rut, then the reason he was in a rut is, himself, probably in a rut too. The difference is Megamind didn't seem to notice or care, which makes sense since he was calling all the shots. So it's possible that Metro Man saw that Megamind needed to go beyond this place they were in.
So perhaps Metro Man abandoned the city. But maybe he was right to do so. It was time someone else took over, and mayhap he knew even Megamind could be the one.
The first reading and the Gospel today correspond with each other perfectly, as they should for this special day. I now see why God had them make a serpent to look at, held above the people. It is a prefiguring of the Cross.
The second reading reminds us that the Cross brings glory. Actually, the Cross brought death, as did the snake. Both, when lifted above the people to gaze on, then brought healing. The people were saved from death.
Naturally, the snake could not fulfill God's ultimate plan for the salvation of His people, and so Christ and His Cross. And that's why it's so important to have a Crucifix hanging on the wall.
"But He, being merciful, forgave their sin and destroyed them not."
This may seem pretty obvious, but it's important to remember to pay attention to the readings and not take them for granted. They often grant insights into sections that you wondered over previously.
"Then it hit me: if I was the bad boy, then I was going to be the baddest boy of them all!"
Megamind is an alien sent to this planet when the destruction of his own planet was immanent. But unlike Metro Man, he doesn't look like any of the creatures of Earth. Furthermore, his ship lands in a prison. His big, blue head comes with brilliant genius, but unfortunately, his genius is not properly understood or applauded. Time after time, Megamind tries to fit in, to be one of the class, but every attempt fails. Discouraged, he starts to think this is all that fate has destined for him.
Megamind decides it was his destiny to be the bad boy and promptly sets off a blue explosion in the school house, which sends him back to jail. In the voice over, Megamind boasts of a long and glorious career, but in the window in the back of the school bus, we catch of glimpse of Megamind looking longingly back at the school.
"What's the point of being bad when there's no good to try and stop you?"
Is Megamind really bad?
First we should ask: Who is Megamind?
Megamind is an alien - we've already covered that. He's a skinny, inventing genius with a passion for guns and looking cool. Since Megamind is the main character of the film, we can see his thoughts and desires, as well as his motives. In essence, Megamind is a kid, having fun and looking for attention. He's all about show and, in truth, he's a bit cliche. He doesn't genuinely wish others ill; he's in it more because it's his fate to be the villain and he's going to have fun with it.
Megamind lacks those qualities which characterize a truly black-hearted villain. First off, he's not cruel to his "minion". They're best friends and practically equals. He's "daddy" to his brain-bots. He doesn't want to take over the city for personal gain, to inflict pain, or for any other selfish reason other than winning a battle. Megamind doesn't want the money, the paintings, or the girl - he wants the fun.
"Maybe I don't want to be the bad guy anymore."
Ultimately, Megamind is lost in his own world. Attention from Roxanne makes his desires for being bad quickly diminish, and the sudden loss of those attentions brings them back again. He puts it aptly himself: "Some days it felt like just me and Minion against the world." He's different and alone, and he's fighting against the world for acceptance. He doesn't get the acceptance, but he can at least fulfill his role as villain.
I'm inclined to feel bad for him, and at the same time, be extremely proud of him: "You left us in the hands of HIM!" Let me paint the scene for you: Megamind is alone. Minion walked out. Roxanne dumped him. Titan is taking over the city. Every single plan Megamind has ever devised has ended in failure - not because he wasn't clever enough, but because he was the bad guy. ("Justice is a non-corrosive metal.") He just found out that the one plan that actually worked - a.k.a. full power of the sun concentrated on Metro Man - actually didn't work. And this same Metro Man abandoned the city to be taken over by Megamind. Everyone, including Megamind, knows that it was a horrible idea to leave Megamind in charge of the city.
Roxanne to Metro Man: "You left us in the hands of... HIM!" (to Megamind:) "No offense."
Megamind: "No, I'm with you."
Megamind gives up. He's he bad guy. He doesn't win. Ever.
And at last, Megamind shows his true potential. He sets things right, wins the girl's heart, and becomes the hero. Megamind wins the admiration of the city, the love of his dream girl, and the place in life he's always wanted and needed. Considering his background and adolescent life in prison, Megamind is a true hero.
Okay, so I've been seventeen for a few months now, but I looked in the mirror today and realized that I'm seventeen. Quite suddenly, I look like a teenager.
And there have been other things.
I'm a senior in high school, and I'm getting the feeling it might be the best school year of my life. I can drive, and I've kind of taken it for granted - it just seemed to happen so naturally. All my life, I've been trained to live life like "everything's going to turn out okay". Which it is. I know it will. Yet, I sometimes felt like I was missing out on some key experiences. I wasn't freaking out about my driver's test, and I passed, and that was that. Then I was a licensed driver. That was that. But today, it suddenly felt... cool.
It was the same with my first SAT. I didn't take a PSAT, but I went in there thinking, "Well, it'll be what it'll be. No use worrying now." I drove myself to the school I'd never been to before and found my way around. I'd never done anything like that before. I was nervous, and I almost felt betrayed because my parents left me on my own. But I was surprisingly not scared. I was a little uncomfortable, and I certainly didn't reach out to anyone, but I felt... grown up. It felt... almost... normal?
I was beginning to think that this college thing was going to be like that. That I'd pick a college, that I'd apply to a college, that I'd be a little worried about my application, that I'd be accepted no problem, that I'd go there, move in, sort of get to know my roommate, and my parents would leave, and that'd be that. No traumatic worrying or anything. Well, I think it may be safe to say that I've been saving it up. Lately, I've been wondering where my teen years went. Next year I'll be an adult. Next year I'll be an adult. Next year I'll be an adult!!!
Or as good as. My word, what do I do?! This is so weird. All of a sudden, I've got that "teenage feeling" that I've been waiting for ever since I turned thirteen.
I'm going to miss Sammy's growing up as he makes the last leaps into toddler-hood. Chrisy is going to be saying more and more whole sentences while I'm gone. Adriana is going to turn into a teenager herself, and I won't be there to watch. I'll only be able to pray and wish that I could be there for her. Briana will turn into a young lady.
As for my own siblings, Amanda might finally grow up too. I won't be here to keep her from taking herself too seriously. I won't be here to be a teenage girl with her - now that she's finally starting to understand my whims. And what about Aaron? All of a sudden he's a teenage boy. Or he will be in November. (Oh, gosh, I feel the tear ducts filling....) When did he get taller than me??? When he he grow that hair on his upper lip? His voice is so low these days. When did that little angel get so flippant? We've never been super close, but I've always loved that little copper-head.
And what about my baby? Rachel, I'll always be your best friend if you'll let me. I worry about you, stuck with us. You're so bullies, so taken for granted, so treated like a pest. After a long day of you and Mum struggling through school, there's nothing I love better than giving you a hug. Never stop talking, sweetie. I've loved hearing your voice while I'm breaking my back in the heat pulling weeds. I loved your head on my shoulder while you so rudely poked your nose into what I was doing online. I loved your sloppiness in our room. I loved how you loved me, my things, and the things I made for you. I've never been really cross with you, I've only been harsh to try to get you to do the right thing. Be strong, baby girl. You'll win over your brother and sister when I'm not there - if only through necessity. And when I come home for Aaron's birthday, you'll probably be taller than me!
As for my parents - well, we've fought against each other for a long time. Hopefully, we'll never have to do that again. There are things I regret, and things I never want to think of again, but there are also things that I don't ever want to forget. If all goes well, whatever happens, we'll be happy with what comes out of college.
But I'm getting ahead of myself. There are still nine months before I have to think about this.
This is my 100th entry. I guess I'm feeling sentimental tonight because I'd like to thank all my readers who check in regularly to read what little ol' me has to say. There's something amazing about writing. I absolutely love it. That's why I'd like to do it for a living if possible. But a journalist is just not my cup of tea. I hate reading newspapers. And that's also why I'd like to know something about computer animation, because I'd then like to take those words and give them a voice.
Even in this strange serenity I seem to be writing in tonight, I can still feel that lost feeling that tells me I'm still confused about life, still torn between reality and what I wish was reality. Of course, reality has always satisfied me when I've found it again, but it's hard to let yourself back down into reality, especially when you can't define it.
One last word: Zach- Thanks for all you did for me. You were incredible. I still don't know what it was, but whatever it was we had was beyond words (which I think is why we stumbled over them so often). Let's do it again some day. Luv u
"I'm the bad guy. I don't save the day, I don't fly off into the sunset, and I don't get the girl."
-Megamind
This often happens in "good-versus-evil". The the conflict swirls around the damsel. Every once in a while, she gets dragged into the swirl, and then she stands in the center, grinning and pulling the strings.
Maybe she doesn't realize she's doing this, but she is the one thing the villain needs to lure the hero; she is the one thing that the hero would do anything for; her decisions influence the decisions of both the hero, the villain, and other key characters.
Lets apply this premise to the new Dreamworks film 'Megamind'. Roxanne is actually a secondary character, but she is a heroine in her own right. She is smart, witty, and brave. Let's examine her character a little further. She is so often kidnapped that she doesn't really mind anymore. As for Metro Man, "he was never really my type," she says, but she certainly does love him in other ways. She's also not afraid to make it clear to Megamind that no one takes him seriously.
She's the pretty girl that brings Metro Man to the rescue. She's the bright reporter on all things Metro Man. She's Hal's coworker and secret crush. She's Megamind's inspiration.
In the start of the movie, Roxanne is set up to be, firstly, a reporter. She is first heard and then seen through the lens of a news camera. Then she's defined as a Metro Man fan: "It's time to get into the Metro Man day spirit!" Then Hal reveals to us that she's the damsel in distress that Megamind uses to lure Metro Man into traps. The audience is then left to assume that Roxanne and Metro Man have a kind of relationship, as you might expect. Almost immediately after, we find out that Hal has a crush on Roxanne, and furthermore that Roxanne is so obviously not interested in him.
As the movie progresses, she quickly turns into a would-be heroine. With Metro Man gone, she decides someone has to stand up to Megamind. Of course, Megamind is actually on her side - not in the way she thinks and, that is, she doesn't even know its him. But she, unwittingly, plays an inspiration to Megamind. Because of her optimism, he realizes he can "create" a hero to battle him, although Roxanne wasn't thinking on such an extreme level.
But Roxanne is inspiration for more than one man - and she's quite unaware of it. Hal, now Titan ("Tighten"), thinks his new powers will lure her to his side. But he makes the tactical error of being far too forward - not to mention trying to woo her just after she realizes Megamind's plan. She realizes that Titan is Megamind's creation and, still being completely uninterested in him, she tries to warn him - to no avail. And because of her rejection, he ditches the good side.
She then dumps Megamind (just after he lost his best friend in a fight) through a twisted turn of fate, leaving two men hurt and lost. Without a reason to be good, both Titan and Megamind have only one backup plan - be bad. However, Megamind is about as good at picking up hints as Titan is. While its true that he convinces Titan to battle him, Titan is still sincere about being evil.
Then Roxanne reluctantly agrees to help Megamind find a way to defeat Titan. In the process, they discover a startling revelation - Metro Man is still alive.
Now that Metro Man - the last hero - is proved to have run from the job, there are no heroes left to look up to. Metro Man hints that its Megamind's turn to be the hero, but it seems Megamind doesn't think it's possible for him to be the hero.
"I'm the bad guy. I don't save the day. .... And I don't get the girl."
Megamind has failed. Time and time again. He's lost every battle. None of his plans have ever worked - including the one he had thought took out Metro Man. He lost his best friend. He lost his girl. He created a villain more dangerous than Megamind ever was. Everything has gone wrong.
Megamind turns himself back into prison. Meanwhile, Roxanne makes one last attempt to be a heroine, but Titan's not interested in negotiating. As Megamind flips through the TV stations in his cell, Titan's face appears on the screen. "Megamind, we have unfinished business! .... Go on, Roxie, call for your hero to come rescue you!"
"Megamind, I don't even know if you're listening, but if you are - you can't give up. The Megamind I know would never have have run from a fight, even when he knew he had no chance of winning. It was your best quality! You need to be that guy right now! The city needs you. I need you."
-Roxanne
Roxanne is the damsel in distress. She's the one who gives the hero a reason to fight. Although she's rather self-dependent, in the end, she plays this role well. She was the ultimate reason Hal wanted to be a hero and then turned evil. She was the reason Megamind created Titan, the reason Megamind stuck to being bad, the reason he turned good. She was the reason good won.
Behind every hero is a girl. This isn't just some cliche - it's never stopped being true.
~Meggy
(Additional thought: Why didn't Metro Man have the inspiration to stay a hero?)
I imagine every blogger will be writing about 9/11 today. And lots of people will be on their toes, waiting for another attack on this tenth anniversary. Loved ones will visit monuments and graves today, commemorating those they lost ten years ago. It was devastating for so many, and very scary. Hardly anyone would be comfortable on a plane today.
Some would not like to hear what I have to say on this. That is mostly why I keep my mouth prudently shut whenever the conversation turns to it. That is not to say that I scoff at the horrifying events that took place on that horrific day. That is not to say that I am deliberately flippant toward all those who lost their lives.
In September of 2001, I was 7, and that being ten years ago, I suppose I would have been in second grade. It's interesting to think that growing up, I thought that 9/11 was actually something that had happened before my lifetime - like many of those things did. The realization of the actual event came slowly. I now know more about it, but it seems I find out more every year.
I am sometimes angered at the reactions of some people toward 9/11. Some people still hold a hard and fast distrust of all people who go by the name of Muslim (is this the white man verses the Indian all over again???). While I cannot claim to have inside knowledge, it seems to me that they are innocent until proven guilty! My friends, there are groups of Muslims who, like many years ago, threaten the safety of the Christian world. Those poor souls are misguided and confused, but they are also inspiring for being on fire for what they believe (sometimes literally, unfortunately).
Terrorists are the people who, claiming religious reasons, kill people to make others submit to their will. This is not right. But nor should we put them to death - if figuratively - for their beliefs. I am so sick and tired of people returning, "But their belief is to kill Americans!" in a kind of vengeful excuse to hate them and all their people. They sound patriotic -
But we are in a larger kingdom, where all peoples, great or small, black or white, Christian or Muslim, are our responsibility. God owns everything. He has given us everything. We need to be praying for, protecting, and laying down our lives for Muslims - yes, even them. They are part of the kingdom - or should be. Where is the Christian nation when we are thinking only about the safety and security of the people on our side?
It made me sick the day I heard Osama bin Laden was killed. At first, I was only saddened that it had come to that. Then I was astonished to hear the response of Americans. Then I was angered. Then I was hurt. Then I was sickened. What kind of a nation are we? when we propose celebration at the death of someone? It was not rejoicing at a war well-fought and won. It was satisfaction at the vengeance brought down upon a man who needs as much mercy and grace as any one of us.
So today, when you mourn the loss of American lives, remember that there were probably some innocent Muslims killed. There were probably a few illegal immigrants too. America is not just the media. America is not just the President or the Courts. America is not polls or ratings or military power or thirst for blood. If it appears to be just any one of those things we have a problem. We need to live. We need to cry. We need to love.
And we need to remember all the lives in the all the troubles of the past. Remember Pearl Harbor. Remember the Civil War. Remember the Alamo. Remember Bunker Hill and Oriskany Battlefield. Remember Korea, Vietnam, and Iran. Remember even the terrorists and their loved ones. Remember the martyrs.
And remember all who have lost their lives for something they loved.
Raindrops and Moonlight: Song Saturday: "I think last Saturday was Song Saturday, but I was away, so I'm doing it today. I couldn't make a descision...It's bit hard without knowin..."
To read more, click either the title of this entry or the link above. Victoria found some very beautiful songs for her Song Saturday.
The Button of Doom extra is not worth buying - repeat, not worth buying. This short is, at the time of this publication, easily found on YouTube and can be watched in whole, or in part if you can't stand to finish it.
Megamind, now Metro City's new hero, decides he has to sell all his evil gadgets, and sets about doing just that. Instead, he's designed a suit with Metro Man's powers. "Uh, I'm not sure it's... you," as Minion so aptly put it. But Megamind won't listen, and when he finds himself trying to defeat the last evil gadget that he couldn't sell ("besides the Death Ray....") - his favorite - Mega-Megamind! But Megamind's suit doesn't really work so well as he was hoping. He quickly gives up, hiding in his invisible car - "The brain bots can bring us snacks!" But fortunately for him, Minion is able to convince him that he should just be "Megamind" to defeat him. They sold all his stuff, but Minion had gone against orders and hidden the "Spyiader Bot". After some mishaps - of course! what battle would be complete without things not going to plan? - Megamind defeats the Mega-Megamind and goes to get all his stuff back - including the dehydration gun (which is in the hands of a bunch of rambunctious kids). Megamind even gets his own sky signal!
Over all, Megamind's character is warped to a sort of more careless, foolish, and ridiculous person. Admittedly, it is amusing, but certainly not worth spending your money on. Buy the movie, but don't worry about this vid. As mentioned above, this video is currently available through YouTube.
Okay, guys, with school back in session, it's important to keep humor and fun in our lives! Therefore, since I need as much humor and fun as anyone, I'm initiating the MONTHLY MOVIE MONDAY! Be the first to name all the movie lines and you win! (prize to be determined at a later date)
1) 'We can quibble about names at a later date!'
2) 'The sun is WARMING UP?!'
3) 'It's in that pot, isn't it?'
4) 'Put the monkey down.'
5) 'Well, when grown-ups ask, "What are you going to do?" and you say, "Nothing," and then you go and do it.'
Of course, I'm the final judge, and only my answer counts as the real one unless you can prove it was in another movie.
So far as I know, Tim Hawkins isn't Catholic, but he is a great Christian comedian. No, he wasn't home schooled, but he does home school his kids. In the video below, those kids aren't all his, but this was his original home schooling song.
Futhermore, there's a great routine he does about homeschooling - this particular video below has more than that, and I encourage you to watch the whole thing, but the quality isn't great so you don't have to. The home schooling stuff starts at about 7:30 - 7:40.
It's interesting to note that Catholicism is about family - it really is. Down to its deepest roots, its about family. God Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, for example. The parish priest is a father to his congregation. Even the Vatican is like a big family, at least from where I'm standing. Yeah, it's a kingdom, but our kingdom is a family.
Home schooling demands valuing the family. It does. You can't get through home schooling without value for the individual, their well-being, and on the family as a whole.
A pleasant surprise! Typical, and yet not. The story of a super villain. A kid sent to earth from another planet without, what would usually be called, "supernatural powers", and yet he has a mechanically-minded brain. He grows up under the oppressive shadow of the kid who comes to be known as "Metro Man". He decides, as any of us might, that he must be made for badness, since that's all he seems to be able to do.
A charming and heartwarming film for the whole family. Megamind's big, green eyes warm your heart immediately. Of course, he's adorable as a baby, but it may be safe to say that he's even more adorable as a child, and maybe more as an adult - if that's possible. The emotions in this movie are deeper and feel more real than most movies are able to portray.
Evil always loses, good always wins. As long as there is evil, good will rise up against it. Destiny is not a path chosen for us, but a path we choose ourselves. These are all part of the theme of the movie, and they are all demonstrated clearly. Some who over analyze morals might say that Megamind's adherence to lies and deceit is unhealthy and dangerous. But in the end, Megamind even repents of all the lies he lived.
If you were put off by something you saw in a trailer, you may be surprised about what it really was. I felt that some aspects of the movie were misrepresented in the trailers, and in certain cases, I suspect it was done deliberately to attract certain kinds of people.
This one receives a D because I am concerned about Hal's language and the movie is a little scary. Furthermore, the movie gets a 9.5/10 with 100% satisfaction, for, although I hated to use half points, I felt the script ought to loose points for Hal's questionable vocabulary. (Note: Hal exposes some childhood fantasies as fake.)
~Meggy
Warning! From here on, mega-spoilers.
(Believe it or not, I didn't intend that pun.^)
[One commenter said "This was cute :) and sad :(", and as I watched it the second time, I found myself almost in tears - weird. It is sad. (The best part is 1:00 to 1:05)]
