Doctor Who Tag, VIII

Click HERE to visit the original tag at Climbing the Alpine Path.

Day Eight
Least Favorite Companions

Last entry, I said:

Rose was annoying, Martha was pitiable, and Clara is too cute.  Clara almost overpowers the Doctor, in my humble opinion.  I know some people like her because she is cute and sassy, but I feel like her story domineers the show and her personality is stronger than the Doctor's – which annoys me greatly.

So yes, those are my thoughts.  It's hard for me to say that I don't like one of the companions––  No wait, I cannot stand Vastra and Jenny.  They are trying too hard to be cool and FAILING.  …In my humble opinion.  They're homosexual??? relationship is also just plain irritating.  Like why?  Adds nothing to anything.

~Meggy

Doctor Who Tag, VII

Click HERE to visit the original tag at Climbing the Alpine Path.

Day Seven

Favorite Companions

Donna Noble is definitely my favorite character.  She doesn't take any crap but she is spunky and funny, sassy, and not a drama-queen (in general) and yet still has emotional depth.  She keeps the Doctor in check in many different ways in a lot of situations.  I also happen to really enjoy her episodes – whether that's because she is in them, I'm not sure.

The Ponds are possibly next on the list – they were fun and funny.  But towards the end, I got tired of their drama (notice a theme?).  It seemed clear to me that the plots were written simply to continue building the Ponds' relationship, and I didn't feel it was working very well.

Rose was annoying, Martha was pitiable, and Clara is too cute.  Clara almost overpowers the Doctor, in my humble opinion.  I know some people like her because she is cute and sassy, but I feel like her story domineers the show and her personality is stronger than the Doctor's – which annoys me greatly.

~Meggy

Doctor Who Tag, VI

Click HERE to visit the original tag at Climbing the Alpine Path.

Day Six
Favorite Doctors

Of the three I've seen extensively, I'm inclined to say that Matt Smith is my favorite.  David Tennant is really good (he's one of my favorite actors), and Christopher Eccleston has his own charm – but Matt Smith's character is less wrapped up in his own emotion and self-imagined drama.  He pities himself less, at least noticeably.  Matt Smith's character is clearly just having fun while still saving the world.

David Tennant's character is extremely funny as well as dramatic, but takes himself too seriously (as evidenced by the specials at the end of his run).  The character development allows for this… but Matt Smith's character is just more fun for me to watch.  (Keeping in mind that I have little patience with drama-queen characters.)

~Meggy

Doctor Who Tag, V

Click HERE to visit the original tag at Climbing the Alpine Path.

Day Five

Least favorite episodes

Asylum of the Daleks

Hated this episode.  I thought Rory was a bit out of character with how he was handling the divorce, Amy's reason was stupid, and duh Rory loves her more!!  …And the Daleks are making less and less sense these days….

Night Terrors

This episode was just weird.  Although it had a cute family message in the end, the episode was just a little off.  For one, it was better suited for an episode where the Doctor is traveling on his own.  Amy and Rory were kind of unnecessary.  I was that kid who imagined her own world because she felt alone – so that premise fascinated me, but the episode was weird.  It was just weird.

There are so many episodes that I disliked for one reason or another, and it's hard to narrow it down and just talk about the ones that I honestly didn't like all over.

Voyage of the Damned

To be fair, I've only seen this episode once, and I was trying to introduce a friend to the show at the time, so I was disappointed that her first episode wasn't better.  But my memory tells me that tons of people died dramatically, unnecessarily, and seemingly just because the writers wanted it to be sad and for the Doctor to be devastated.

Amy's Choice

There's nothing wrong with this, per se, I just didn't really enjoy it.  It was trying to pit Rory and the Doctor against each other, and yet it wasn't trying to do that, and it was trying to say that if the Doctor was not on the side of the angels (if I may borrow that line from Sherlock) he would be like this dream dude, and the conflict between what Amy wanted and what Rory wanted was pushed but not opened.  It was like a bunch of issues were touched on but not confronted or solved.

ALSO!  In the last installment, I forget to mention tons of Rory moments which are absolutely my favorite.  But I won't list them – just know, he's awesome.

~Meggy

Normal, Funny, Unique, and Loving ways to end your letters, notes, e-mails, conversations, tweets, posts....

http://easymakesmehappy.blogspot.com/2010/07/normal-funny-unique-and-loving-ways-to.html

~Meggy

And the Award Goes To...!

I would like to present Banrion An Gheimhridh (from Climbing the Alpine Path) with the Best Commenter Award for her frequent and relevant comments.  Last month, her comments topped all others.  Her comments outnumbered all others combined, and what she had to say was thought-provoking and helpful.  She connected what she read with her own experience, and was kind enough to share those thoughts.

So without further ado, Banrion An Gheimhridh, I offer you, in gratitude, the Best Commenter Award, in hopes that you will accept it and, I hope, find someone else you can bestow the award upon.

There are only a few simple rules:

• Should you choose to accept the award, you will always have the power to pass it on to other outstanding commenters like yourself.
• In addition, at the beginning of next month, evaluate the comments of this current month and graciously present the Best Commenter Award to the person that commented the most often.  Give a testimony of their greatness and, if they are also a blogger, link to their blog.  (This is a one time obligation and you will not be expected to repeat this every month for the rest of your blogging career.)
• Optional: give an acceptance speech on your own blog and leave a link in the comments below!

Thanks, you are superb!

~Meggy

Doctor Who Tag, IV

Click HERE to visit the original tag at Climbing the Alpine Path.

Day Four

Favorite episodes and favorite scenes/moments

The first episode that comes to mind is one that I watched recently (or rather heard – my sister was watching it in the backseat):
Silence in the Library and Forest of the Dead – it's well done on many counts.  It's mysterious, River Song remarkably resembles the character that she develops into, it's written well, and the acting is superb.  That isn't to say that it's perfect… but it's not bad.

The Doctor, the Widow, and the Wardrobe – One of my absolute favorites.  Every time I sit down to see it, I figure that I've got everything I can get out of it already, so sit tight for this again.  But it never leaves me feeling that way.  It's too cute.

When the Doctor and Martha find out about the Face of Bo is another one of my favorite moments, simply because it made him so much more important.  Suddenly he was more than… well, what he was.  I loved who that character was.

I also really loved some of the quirkier Christopher Eccleston moments.  Such as his dancing in "The End of the World," and his "I can dance!  I can dance!" as well as many moments in "The Empty Child."  "The Empty Child" is also one of my favorite episodes.

Banríon An Gheimhridh named many episodes that are on my list as well; she really exhausted herself on this list!  I can't say I'm going to do the same, but check out hers!

~Meggy

Doctor Who Tag, III

Click HERE to visit the original tag at Climbing the Alpine Path.

DAY THREE

Favorite Theme Songs

I think my favorite show theme song, out of the ones I'm familiar with, is this one:

I also like:

And, well, I really like a lot of music in the 5th season.

This one is haunting.  I love it.

~Meggy

Doctor Who Tag, II

Click HERE to visit the original tag at Climbing the Alpine Path.

DAY TWO

Favorite Quotes

"Alons-y, Alonso!"  [David Tennant]

"Do we tend to say yowza?"  [Matt Smith]

"I'm like Gandalf.  Outer space Gandalf.  Or the little green guy in Star Wars.  Wommm."  (deleted scene)  [Matt Smith]

"I can dance.  I can dance!"  [Christopher Eccelston]

"AND I"M NOT LISTENING!!!"  [David Tennant]

"Who looks at a screwdriver and thinks, 'Oohoo, this could be a little more sonic"?  [John Barrowman as Captain Jack Harkness]
"What, you've never been bored?  Never had a long night?  Never had a lot of cabinets to put up?"  [Christopher Eccelston]

"You're prejudiced."  [John Barrowman as Captain Jack Harkness]
"Never thought of it like that."  [David Tennant]

And I'm sure there's a lot more.  Love this show!

~Meggy

Doctor Who Tag, I

Click HERE to visit the original tag at Climbing the Alpine Path.

"When and why did you start watching Doctor Who, and what made you become a fan of it?"

Well, I don't remember exactly when, or even how, but it was within the first few months of college, as I recall.  I didn't have many friends yet, and the ones I had didn't really just hang out at every possible opportunity, so I didn't have much to do.  I may have ordered it through the school library, or I may have watched in on my parent's Netflix. . . .  I'm not sure.  But I was advised by one of my blog readers as to a certain order to introduce myself to them.  After watching "Blink," I'm not entirely sure why I went back for more.  It was so different from anything I regularly watched – but I suppose I was "off at college now," and it had just enough whimsy to intrigue me.

Science fiction really gets to me, it would seem.  I haven't seen much of it, but the shows I have watched have fascinated me.  This whole "more to science than we know" just captures my imagination.  And, unlike fantasy, it's generally faster paced and seems to be more episode-by-episode, as far as plot goes, instead of one long story.

Anyway, it is very funny and the Doctor – whichever he is – tends to be hilariously eccentric.  But there's some seriousness there; some drama; something deeper underneath that is tenderly endearing.

I actually haven't watched much lately, which is sad.  I want to go back and watch the original seasons if I get around to it.

~Meggy

Truly Scrumptious

I used to find awards somewhat irritating.  Perhaps because I didn't get very many.  But every so often, I get an award and I have to answer their questions – and once in a while, those questions are things I like to think about!  So yay!  I've been awarded!!

Scrumptious? Okay.

Rules:
1) Once you are awarded, post about it on your blog and leave a link back to the person who awarded you 
2) Answer all the questions on the tag 
3) Do not award anyone who has less than 100 followers [???]
4) Come up with ten new questions 
5) Keep your questions clean and refrain from using vile language 
6) Tag 5 to 10 people

And now for the questions:

1) What is your favorite TV show?
Probably Doctor Who.

2) Do you have a favorite name that you would want to give your first child?
If a boy, I have this need to call him John Zechariah – but that might change over time.  The reason is that I am particularly attached to Saint John the evangelist and my middle name is Elizabeth (hence, Zechariah, yes? and then John. . . do you follow?) (plus that was the middle name of my first crush. . .).
If a girl, I think I would want to call her Megan.

3) If you had the chance, would you go bungee jumping?
Yes.

4) What movie are you most excited about seeing that is coming out in theaters this year?
Um. . . Monsters University?  That's pretty much the only movie I know about.  Oh! Oh wait!  The Hobbit!  That's coming out this year right?

5) Chocolate chip cookies or oatmeal raisin cookies?
I really can't stand raisins and I'm only okay with oatmeal.  Chocolate chip is it!

6) When you blog, what is one thing that you like to put in your posts?
Tough one.  I like to put something that I hope will be interesting and capture my readers' attention – make them think about something new, or about something old in a new way.

7) What is your favorite quote?
Right now, it might be:
Love is not blind; that is the last thing it is. Love is bound; and the more it is bound the less it is blind.
G.K Chesterton

8) Do you consider yourself a sports person?
No.  Although I enjoy playing sports with friends and I enjoy watching sports with friends, I don't actively follow sports very often and I've never been particularly good at them.

9) Name one place that you would like to go to some day.
Ireland, I think.

10) What is your favorite Bible verse?
God has made everything beautiful in its time. (Ecclesiastes 3:11)


I would tag some blogs but it seems that so many of them have already been tagged.  Let me leave it with this: If I'm following your blog and you haven't been tagged, thou art scrumptious.  I know this seems like a cop-out and it's always lame when people do that – but 'tis true!  And what would you have me do?

My ten questions – should you chose to answer them – are:

1) What is your favorite flavor of ice cream?
2) When you think of summer and ice cream together, do you imagine frilly white frocks and potato sack races?
3) What does your dream life look like?
4) Where were you five years ago today? (near as you can figure)
5) Do you have a life goal?
6) How often do you write in your diary/journal?
7) At the end of your life, what do you think you will be most proud of?  Or perhaps, what do you hope people will most remember you for?
8) If you found your dream location but the house was ugly, would you still buy the property?
9) Have you ever held a snake?
10) Were you bored by these questions?

~Meggy

Magnificence is Truly Dumbfounding

I almost can't believe myself, but I nearly didn't write anything for this glorious feast.  I don't write religious pieces very often.  Perhaps I am at fault for this. . . .  But I would be remiss if I skipped over this, most beloved of all feasts on my heart.  . . . .That is, it is the devotion which is the closest to my heart.  Which is ironic, in a way, because it is the Sacred Heart.

I opened my journal today and decided to just do my best at pouring out my heart about it.  This is what happened:

Sacred Heart of Jesus, I bow before Your greatness.  Your magnificence is truly dumbfounding.  Nothing compares to Your radiance; nothing can compete with Your influence on my life.  I express, now, my deepest gratitude to You and my humblest devotion.  No matter what, You have my heart.  You may ever hold my heart within Your own.  Hold it prisoner there if it so pleases You; but I beg You, cast it not away from You when it breaks or turns cold.  Only Your blood, which You shed, could ever make it whole again. 

Sacred Heart of Jesus, I trust in You.

I wanted to share it so I could explain, in some small way, the ardor of my affection for this feast.

I have always been drawn to the Sacred Heart.  I don't know why, but it was only recently that I began to take the interest seriously and delve into it a bit more.  One website I found interesting was this: http://www.sistersofreparation.org/history-of-devotion-to-the-sacred-heart.html.  I was particularly interested to read about Sr. Maria Alfonsa.  I could swear I've heard about her before, but what interested me was that she came to Steubenville – where I'm going to college!  I thought that was so cool!

I also found this website, suggested by http://raindropsandmoonlight.blogspot.com:

http://www.fisheaters.com/sh.html

I highly recommend it to get further acquainted with this devotion.

And then there's this: http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/07163a.htm.  I haven't read it but I'm sure it's splendid.

There's also this site, which I've not finished exploring yet: http://sacredheartdevotion.com/

There's one prayer to the Sacred Heart of Jesus that, I remember, really got me hooked:

I fly to Thee Sacred Heart of my Savior, for Thou art for my refuge, my only hope.  Thou art the remedy for all my miseries, my consolation in all my wretchedness, the reparation for all my infidelities, the supplement for all my deficiencies, the expiation for all my sins, and the hope and end of all my prayers.
Thou art the only one who is never weary of me and Who can bear with my faults, because Thou lovest me with an infinite love.  Therefore, O my God, have mercy on me according to Thy great mercy, and do with me, and for me, and in me, whatever Thou wilt, for I give myself entirely to Thee, divine Heart, with full confidence that Thou wilt never reject me.
Amen.

For some reason, this prayer always comforts me or gives me strength.  It hasn't let me down yet.  Perhaps because I believe in it so much.

I also love that it is so closely intertwined with the Eucharist and Divine Mercy.  My house is consecrated to the Divine Mercy and a local parish has Perpetual Adoration in "The Divine Mercy Chapel," which I used to have a weekly slot at; not to mention how much I love the Eucharist.  And the Sacred Heart and Divine Mercy devotions are so closely related.  I'm just head over heals in love with the Sacred Heart.

A friend of mine shared this on Facebook today
and it quickly became my cover photo.

I have also found the letters of Saint Margaret Mary Alacoque in PDF form, if you're interested.  I haven't read much of it but I was super excited to find it so readily available.

My relationship with Mary has been deepening lately as well.  For a long time, I've struggled with it, but not because I was reluctant.  Because I don't have a close relationship with either of my parents, I've long wanted God and Mary to be there for me when they weren't.  Accepting God as my Father took some time, but I developed that devotion years ago (although I wish it was stronger).  My devotion to Mary as my mother has taken longer, but it's finally beginning to sink in.  Not always – sometimes I want to turn to her as my mother but I don't know how and I just end up thinking "Mary" in silence, unsure what to do next.  But that form of prayer has its benefits as well I expect.

So naturally, I'm falling for the Immaculate Heart as well – which is often pictured with her Son's heart:

Just found this picture
and I think I love it!

I've found various ways of depicting the two, however, as sometimes they are both ringed in thorns, sometimes Mary's has a sword through it, or whatever.  It's made me wonder if there is an official, endorsed rendering.  I haven't done my research yet but if anyone knows anything about that, I'd love to have something to start my research with.

And I recently learned that the entire month of June is apparently devoted to the Sacred Heart! Yay!  A whole month to celebrate this wonderful devotion.

I've often wondered why Marian devotions get so much attention.  Is it in response to Protestant disfavor of Mary?  Is it overcompensating?  I firmly believe in Mary's importance, but sometimes the observance of devotions to God Himself seem pale in comparison.  Just something to think about.

~Meggy

The Holy Fool: The Bikini Question: a Rebuttal

In case you haven't read this, please do:

The Holy Fool: The Bikini Question: a Rebuttal: Recently, a post on modesty has been making the rounds. The article is simply the latest post to specifically target certain types of sw...

You may not agree with everything; it's just important to me that you think about it.  I wrote a post about it a few days ago if you're interested in more thoughts on this topic.

~Meggy

Today the Gray Dripped from the Sky

http://thethoughtsofthemadelvishpoet.blogspot.com/2013/01/today-gray-dripped-from-sky.html

Today the Gray Dripped from the Sky

I recommend this post by the Mad Elvish Poet because I think it is simply spot on.

~Meggy

He Was Here

First, go read the version at The Thoughts of the Mad Elvish Poet.

It was interesting to read her interpretation, because we both had the same "on the brink of something big" impression, but her style was completely different from the one I imagined – I couldn't resist trying my own hand and comparing the two.  I'm not saying that mine is better, just that the two interpretations are different.  I liked hers, understand.  I wanted to compare the difference that two different people saw in the same picture.  I really encourage you to read mine and then read hers (or vice versa) and maybe write your own, and see just how varied perspectives can be!

 

He was in here, somewhere.  He'd gone down, down, down – somewhere.  I didn't know where.  But he was down here.  Something drew me in here and I don't know why.  But I knew, somehow, I knew he was in here.  He'd been missing for almost a year – isn't that always the way?  Somehow I knew he was in here.

No trick of science could explain this to me – no reasoning would keep me away.  He was in here.  He had gone down, down, down.  He was in here somewhere.  He had drowned, and no one had been around to see it.  Why, I didn't know.  But he was in here.  He was in here.  He had drowned, he had died – and yet he was still here.  He was waiting.  He was still here, waiting.  He was in here somewhere, waiting for me.  He was waiting for me to come and find him.

I need only step in and find him.  I need only feel my way in and find him.  I need only run my feet carefully along the rocky bottom and find him.  He was waiting.  He was waiting for me to find him.  I need only go in farther.  I need only go in deeper.  I need only go in farther, deeper, up to my knees in the icy water.  He was waiting, and my skirt grew heavy.  He was waiting and I need only go up to my waist.  He was in here somewhere and I only needed to find him.

He was here.  He was waiting.  He was here, waiting for me.  I could see him.  I could see him down there.  He was down there, waiting on the bottom.  He was here in the murky water.  I could see him.  He was here and I could see him.  He was waiting here for me to find him and I could see him.  He was here.  He was waiting.  He was here.  He was here....

~Meggy

Artsy Award!

The Golden Road: Artsy Award!: An award! Oooooo... yay! Thank you Miss Elizabeth from The Country Handmaiden for it! And here are the questions acco...

I was recently given the 'Artsy Award'.  Ironically enough, I think, I now have to answer five questions that I think artsy people can't answer.  But oh well!  Here goes:

1)  Skirts or jeans?

I will say this: jeans are very convenient on a number of levels, but not, I feel, terribly flattering almost all of the time.  They also tend to be too much affected by the little things.  Skirts are very feminine, easy, and flattering (usually), but not terribly practical some of the time.  I tend to feel that jeans are "cosy-er".

2)  Cats or dogs?

I'd rather not have one without the other, quite frankly.  Cats are snuggly and cuddly, soft and somehow intelligent.  Dogs are simpler, devoted, show an obvious need for your attention.

3)  Cows or horses?

Oh... really?  I don't like milk, but I love cows.  I love riding horses.  I'll not choose.

4)  Wood floors or carpet?

Wood floors have such a ring to them, and a smoothness after a good scrub.  Wide pine floors are beautiful.  Carpets are soft and softening.  They encourage warmth.  They each have their place.

5)  Rain or sun?

Sun on a day when my life is before me.  Rain on a day when my life is behind.  Sun on a day when my hopes are high.  Rain on a day when my dreams are soaring.  Sun on a day when I've conquered the world.  Rain on a day when the world conquers me.

And with that, I have been sufficiently vague.  I appreciate getting awards because it tells me that people read my blog, even when page views are down and comments are few.  When someone has an award to give and she thinks of me, I'm pleased, because you're pleased (pronoun disagreement).  And that makes me happy.

I will not pass on the award to "Raindrops and Moonlight" because I see that she has already received the award; but let it here be known that she receives honorable mention.

Shoes of Paper, Stockings of Buttermilk

The Thoughts of the Mad Elvish Poet

The Messy Desk of Me

Arda Nessimava

Petticoats and Muckboots

~Meggy

Autumn

There are some beautiful pictures of Autumn over at 'The Messy Desk of Me':

http://shieldmaidenofgod.blogspot.com/2012_09_01_archive.html

It's been officially Fall for a while now, hasn't it?  How did I miss that???

~Meggy

Famous Women of Films Week

Famous Women of Films Week is going on at The Golden Road and I have been tagged to answer some questions.  This will be really difficult since I am not really a "favorites" person.



1. What was the first "old movie" that you can remember watching?
Well, I'm sure I had watched others first, but the first one I can remember is 'Singing in the Rain' (excepting Christmas movies).

2. Out of the Famous Women mentioned this week, who is your favorite singer?
This is a tough one since there are a few singers I like but I haven't heard much of their work.  Besides that, each singer is a little different.  If you asked me if Jane Powell or Kathryn Grayson, it would be a little easier.  But I think I have to say Jane Powell is my favorite singer.

3. Out of the Famous Women mentioned this week, who is your favorite dancer?
No second guesses - Vera Ellen

4. Out of the Famous Women mentioned this week, who is your favorite actress?
Of the ones I know well, I have to say Jane Powell again.

5. What is your favorite "old movie"?  Why?
 It could be 'Hit the Deck', because it has Ann Miller, Debbie Reynolds, and Jane Powell, as well as three great actors, and lots of fun music.  But then, I really like 'Take Me Out to the Ball Game', which doesn't star any of these women.

6. Who is your utmost favorite Famous Woman of Films Week?  Why?
I'm going to say Jane Powell.  Out of all of them, I have seen the most of her and I think she is very good.  Although I have also seen much of Ann Miller and Vera Ellen, am not as impressed with their overall performance as with Jane Powell's.

7.  Do you watch a lot of "old movies" starring many of these Famous Women or do you have different tastes?  If so, please share your interests!
Yes, I do.  I have watched a lot of Jane Powell's earlier films, many of Donald O'Connor's early work, and have finally figured out what Frank Sinatra was such a heartthrob.  Gene Kelly is also very talented, but they comes a point where you feel like he should be in a ballet on the stage instead of in the movies.  And there is so much more....  Go to my movie review page.  I don't have a whole lot up yet, but you can get the general feel for what I like there.  Also, look at the videos I put in my posts!

8. Were you introduced to any new actresses by Famous Women of Films Week?  If so, which one(s)?
 Yes, I don't believe I've heard of Ann Reinking and I'm afraid I haven't seen 'Annie'.  So if I've seen her in something else, I missed it!




Alright, so here are the rules:


1. Answer the questions provided in a blog post.
2. Mention the person who tagged you with a link to their blog.
3. Tag three other people and let them know you have tagged them!



Trying to be insightful as to who would be interested in this, I tag:
Rosamund Gregory - A Wanderer In the Shadowed Land/Shoes of Paper Stockings of Buttermilk 
Emily - Meaningful Words 
WinterRose - Soaring Sigh 

I apologize if this is a terrible inconvenience to you all, but! that's how it is when you have a blog
~Meggy

 

Drat!

Over at 'A Wanderer In the Shadowed Land', there is, as of today, a new post about awards.  Congrats are in order for winning the awards.  But as I was reading, I was thinking, "Now would be a good time to finally write that post about the downsides to blog awards, how inconvenient they are," all in a manner that would not offend of course.  And then, wouldn't you know it?  Right down there at the bottom, she awarded me the Kreativ Blogger Award.  Darn.

How totally ungrateful would it be for me to say that they're kinda stupid?  I mean, I should definitely not say that, since you're forced to pick blogs to award, the award doesn't necessarily mean anything.  Yeah, that would be rather snobbish.  But perhaps I could mention that bloggers scroll down to the end of the post to see if they're there and, finding that they're not, are kinda disappointed, and scold themselves for being so selfish.  (Don't look at me!  I don't know what I'm talking about.)  Technically, the award would eventually get to every blog ever created, if everyone who received it passed it on to three new people.  And it would be the epitome of ingratitude to ask, what does this award really mean?  Some random person made a picture that said "blah-blah award" so that they could really hit home to someone that their blog is awesome.  But so what?  It's just an extravagant way of putting a comment that said "I love your blog!"  So since that would be totally uncalled for, I won't ask.  Neither will I say any of these things that would be quite rude and inconsiderate to the person who so kindly awarded me.  In fact, it would be much better to say:

[Note: parts that are in brackets are my thoughts and are not actually in my acceptance speech]

Thank you very much, Rosamund Gregory, for this award.  Awards for bloggers are great because they make bloggers feel like they're not wasting time [which they probably are] by writing all their thoughts and [meaningless] details of their day on the world wide web.  It's so great that there are so many awards going around so that anyone [anyone] can receive an award and be uplifted.  [And really, why else would anyone blog if not to be uplifted by people you're not even sure actually exist.]  It means so much to me to receive the Kreativ Blogger Award.  I always considered myself to be creative [so why would someone need to tell me?] and it is just so gratifying to know that someone else has [finally] recognized my genius.  It is thrilling to learn that my talent for creativity has measured up enough to be awarded.  And here I'd like to thank all the little people who made this possible, but I can't think of any.  So thank you, very much, for awarding me this honor.

But apparently, I have to do one thing more in order to receive this award [like my creativity isn't enough]: ten random things about myself.

1.  As of right now, it is 9:49 AM and I have been up since about half-an-hour ago.

2.  I like Frank Sinatra's pre-injury voice better than the after voice.

3.  There is a light bulb sitting on my desk.  That's not really a random fact about me, though, until I tell you that it's my personal light bulb.  Yep, when I get an idea, it hovers over my head and lights up.

4.  Tonight I am going to my first birthday party in almost ten years.  (I'm still not sure what to buy her for her sweet sixteen - any ideas?  Earrings? iTunes gift card? a flower pot?  no, no, that's stupid....)

5.  If I could have my way, I'd get back in bed, put a TV on my desk, order popcorn and a soda pop, and sleep/watch movies/read the day away.

6.  I'm praying for good weather tomorrow 'cuz it's my party.

7.  I think I'm going to wait to eat breakfast until my mom gets back from small group at Panera.  She always brings cinnamon bagels - yum.

8.  I am so excited about my singing lessons - I'm making huge progress.

9.  Because I am now the second shortest person in the family, I sat in the middle seat in the middle row down to Virginia last weekend, which is a terrible seat, and I pinched my shoulder.  It still hurts when I stretch it or work it hard (sometimes when I use that arm to cut food!) and, get this, when I'm singing!

10.  I need to get offline.

Well, all that being said, thank you, truly, Rosamund, for the award.  I make you smile?  Aw, gosh....  That's even better than the award.  Congratulations on your new sibling!


Stay tuned for winners - will be back soon......   [UPDATE: Alright, shoot me - I'm not awarding this to anyone.  At least not right away.  When I come across something that screams "CREATIVE!!!!" I'll award it on the spot.  In the meantime, my award is not going to become an inconvenience to me - sorry!.]

 

~ Meggy

A Letter from Audrey

Some time ago, A Wanderer In the Shadowed Land challenged us to write letters from literary characters, our own or otherwise, to get to know them better.  I thought I'd write a letter from one of the primary characters of the book I'm meticulously working on now.  She's a rather quiet person and even I don't know much about her so this was the perfect opportunity to get to know her better.  After writing the letter, I asked myself, Did I succeed?  Do I know her?  Well, I don't know.  This careful character is still pretty guarded.  But I'm finally figuring out what her relationship to Eva Locknob is, which is terribly important for later.

Dear Eva, If this letter comes to you under a name you do not know, it is because I changed my name at Brindleby to prevent anyone from tracking me here.  I am now in a little town called Wassying, which seems to be completely ignorant of magic altogether.  They think magic is either a myth or the complicated and outdated origin of the superstition to which they are so devoted.  I knew it would be safe place for me to hide, but I do terribly miss a society that believes as I do.

I have found evidence that there once was a vibrant magic community here.  There is a stone circle just outside of the old section of town, an area which long ago burned to the ground.  I was amazed to find that, instead of being abandoned, it was often used as a social meeting place.  I have been to several dances there.  --  I know it will not surprise you to hear that I have a suitor already, although it well distresses me.  The Wassy, which is what the people of Wassying call themselves, call us "swain", a word which I have not heard since Weatherby more than fifteen years ago.  Cedric Price is a handsome gentleman, and his manners exceed those of all else in Wassying.  The manners of Wassying are so very loud and comfortable that the whole place seems to be one family.  It is so different from what I am used to, but however superiorly gentlemanly Mr. Price  --

may be, I cannot make up my mind to be in love with him.  He left town on Tuesday, but first he asked me to take his mother's ring as a symbol of our pledge to one another.  Will I shock you if I admit that I did not take it?  I could not look at him and take his ring.  I am not aware of pledging anything and, I declare, he has never shown any interesting beyond a moderate respect.  Neither of us believe in superstition and he finds me sound of mind, he has said, although we disagree on matters of petitions, which he has resolved by saying in so many words that women do not have a full knowledge of such matters.  Leith still haunts my nightmares from time to time, and now more that ever, I with I was back at your inn.  I cannot seem to disspell him from my mind, although he has driven me even to open up my mother's books again.

Eva, it has been too long since Cedric left Wassying for Sidd.  I pray that you have seen him for I sent him to you.  But I have heard nothing.  No one else in town has either.  I do worry about him because, no matter how uncertain about marriage I may be, I still care for him very much, and he is so very foolish and young of mind.  He could not comprehend Octavius' full power, since he does not believe in magic, and he has no talent in negotiating.  The trip to Sidd from Wassying is, at most, fourteen days.  To have been gone a full two months and some is worrying, and I am not the only one who is concerned.  His best friend Ted is perhaps almost more concerned that I am.  he knows Cedric's naive nature far better than I and, he has confided to me, blames himself for letting Cedric go alone.  --  I have decided to come after him, and perhaps it would be wise for me to see Octavius.  i send this ahead of me, but do --

-- not bother to write in answer.  I am leaving as soon as may be.  Please expect me.  I have missed you very much and I hope you are well.  -- With all my love, Audrey

Unfortunately, the letter is blurry so I added captions.

I'd like to write letters for my other characters, so stay tuned!

 

"Guess that concludes negotiations."  I just love

these guys, don't you?  They possess everything

you wish everyone had: loyalty, bravery, simplicity,

oh, and awesome clothes!

 

~Meggy