As we bid 2010 farewell...

Well here we are.  Life has taken us to the end of another calendar year.  At this time a lot of tv stations are throwing out New Year countdown comedies, or talk shows that look back on the events of the year.  When I was a kid I always thought New Years was kind of pointless - fun, but pointless.  I mean afterall, we made up what a calendar year is anyway; it's not as if the world is somehow advancing to a new stage or beginning.  Even we don't go on to new beginnings - seriously, how many of you actually succeed in following your New Year's resolutions?  If you follow up on them for more than a month I applaud you; mine usually last half a week at best.  But as I got older I realized something great about New Years:  we look back and remember; and when we look back and remember, we might just learn something useful that will affect how we live from then on.

Okay, maybe that's a bit philosophical, but it's true.  The news will remind us of all the bad things that happened (though when we live in comfort, we often forget that they still ARE happening - just because the earth stopped shaking in Haiti doesn't mean we should forget about aid); but also we look back on the good.  Reminders of how to improve, and reminders of what was done right.

Personally, I am very excited for the New Year, because I am going to be doing a Lucy Maud Montgomery feature, among other things, on this blog!!!  My favourite Canadian author EVER.  So stay tuned.  :)  And also, 2011 means I am that much closer to finishing school, a place I have been regualry frequenting for the last 15 years.

I want to wish you all a very happy New Years.  Please be happy, please be safe, and please focus on all the good that you can bring into 2011. 

Happy Birthday Jane Austen!

That's right, today is Jane Austen's birthday, and we should celebrate!

How old is she?  How was she born?  What was life like for a baby in the regency period? - check out this blog to celebrate Jane's birthday!  :)

http://janeaustensworld.wordpress.com/2010/12/16/baby-jane-austens-first-two-yearshappy-235th-birthday-jane/

Because Bob Crachet Rocks

This post is for all those people out there who know that it is Christmas season, but are still trapped in a world of essays and exams, and won't get out until a few days before Christmas Eve...

Let me first say - I am one of you.

Let me say secondly that it sucks to be still at school, and there is no mood-killer more powerful than a dingy college room and chemical and political concepts to study.

But here for inspiration I look to Bob Crachet, who, in the famous tale, had it a lot worse off than I do just before Christmas, and managed to carry it inside him even as he sat with numb fingers infront of a ledger of finances.  How can you get into the Christmas spirit without comprimising your quality work?  Well, here are the top 5 ways on my poor-man's college list:

5)  Drink Hot Chocolate.  Seriously - and if you're requiring exam coffee, mix it half and half with your hot chocolate!  Nothing warms you up like that, and it will get your taste buds in the mood for home!

4) Watch Christmas movies on Youtube.  There's a ton of them there, classic or otherwise!  Please use youtube responsibly - don't waste your study time on it like I do; watch a short movie before bed everyday.

3) Listen To Christmas Carols!!!!!!  This is a top way to get in the mood!!!!  Get a CD, tune on the radio, or make yourself a playlist on youtube and let 'er role!  You'll find yourself destressing and singing along half way through.

2) Decorate.  This could involve a string of snowflakes cut out of the paper that you printed out that stupid 10 page essay on that you won't be needing anymore; it could be building a snowman in your yard; it could be lighting advent candles in a common area; or putting up a Christmas stocking on your door. 

1)  AND THE NUMBER ONE WAY IS:  Wear a Santa hat to your Exam!!!!!  Not even joking!  Any of you out there brave and full of cheer?  Then do it!  You will notice that people are staring - and also take note of the smiles on their faces.  If not, Christmas shirts, earings, or reindeer horns may be suitable substitutes.

And have yourselves a Merry Christmas.  :)

The Voyage of The Dawn Treader

It's out in theatres!!!  And I have seen it!!!!  And I'm gonna manage to talk about it without offering spoilers!!!

Let me start by saying that I do not have a favourite book in the Chronicles of Narnia series.  When people ask me, I tend to lean towards the one I have read most recently, or they mention their favourite and I remember how good it is, and become inclined to agree with them.  But in my moments of sober reflection, I have come to understand that The Chronicles of Narnia stand together, and that I cannot love one more that the other, or less than the other.  C.S.Lewis was a genius, and his stories are masterpieces.  The Voyage of the Dawn Treader is no exception.  And since I am a big fan of the previous movies, I was pumped.  Extremely pumped.

Well, without offering any spoilers, let me say this.  I watched it in the theatres, (but not in 3D), and enjoyed it.  It wasn't perfect, and perhaps it felt a bit disjointed: there was room for more character development than was offered, and the music was very different.  And the ACCENTS - no one has a spanish accent in this film.  Now, that would actually make a lot of sense in the case of the Telmarines, who may very well have picked up "Narnian" (aka British) accents because of the nature of their relations, BUT in that case, the 7 Lords should still have had Spanish accents, since they left during the Telmarine reign.  However, despite these criticisms, I would be lying if I avoided saying how many AMAZING parts there were, beautiful scenery, amazing ship, AWSOME Reepicheep, Eustace surprised me, and the end - the end made me cry.  In the theatre, with my friends, teared up.  Yup.  Embarrassing.  But worth the embarassement.

So my advice: Watch It.  Don't expect it to be like the others, but don't expect dissappointment either.  Just hold on for the ride.  The book, of course, is much better.  But the film is an amazing window into the third story in the Narnian adventures - the chronicles of everybody's favourite land, and a another meeting with everybody's favourite Lion.

And if we're lucky - if you guys ALL go to watch it, and go more than once to the theatre, maybe, just maybe, Fox will agree to let them do one final installment, and we will see the mystery of The Silver Chair.  Cross your fingers.  Cuz that'd be fantastic.

A Christmas-time Hero

Who doesn't love a good action story?  Sword fights, fist fights, battle of wits, sneaking through creepy tunnels, battling evil, and maybe even winning a hot babe (traditionally refered to as a damsel in distress) along the way?  Yeah, everyone likes one of those.  But those tend to come along only during the regular season, not Christmas...right?

Think again!  There's one you're missing! One that's been around since before you were born.

The Nutcracker.

For anyone who just rolled their eyes and thought "stupid ballet" I say - Shame On You!  And it's not just a ballet;  it's available in movie form, as well as in story books.  Here is an action, fantasy, romance, historical, all in one, including a very moving soundtrack by none other than Russia's brilliant Tchiacovsky.  (pretty sure he was Russian, sorry if I'm wrong).

So if you guys are needing a break from all the light-hearted Christmas cheer and need a dose of something more adrenaline-pumping, not even joking, get your hands on the Nutcracker in any form of media which you prefer.  One of the greatest Christmas classics, and some of the best music, to ever come out of Europe!

Spoiler Alert: the ending of my favourite tv version of The Nutcracker, starring two amazing Canadians - Keifer Sutherland and Megan Follows - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r9L2l5EWNt0

Peace on Earth: The Lion and the Lamb

Okay, well this isn't exactly about the Lion and the Lamb, it's actually about the Elephant and the Dog, but you'll forgive the metaphoric title.

It's Advent; the season of preparation, when we wait for the coming of Christmas, just like everybody else did up until the end of the B.C. era.  And we celebrate peace and joy and bogo sales.  Getting along with neighbours we have NOTHING in common with.  That sort of thing.

Well, in case you thought it could not be done - that the Smiths and Jones next door are impossible to understand, and that there will never be peace on earth - I would like to share a story.  And it's true, so don't laugh.

There is an elephant reserve in Tenesee.  Yes, I am aware that elephants are not, in fact, native to Tenesee.  However, there is one there.  Probably for retired zoo and circus animals.  It is either comprises a majority of females, or is exclusively for females.  It is quite common for these animals to pair off into bff groups, with other elephants they share some sort of primal understanding with.  One of these female elephants, Tara, made a best friend - with one of the farms dogs. 

This dog was barely taller than the hieght of Tara's foot, but the did everything together - eat, play, nap.  Not kidding.  And when the dog suffered a spine injury and had to be kept in an enclosed building at the edge of the property to recovery, Tara came and stood at the fence, everyday for three weeks, waiting for the dog to come out.  She wouldn't abandon her friend.

For all those sappy gals like myself, this story has a happy ending; the dog recovered and was able to walk again, and they are now doing everything together once more.  It may be guessed that Tara may outlive her canine friend by quite a while, but for now they are just enjoying eachother.  I am including the video for anyone who doubts the touchinginess of the story.

Okay, I am not this stupid idealist who truly believes that everyone on earth would be friends if they could only see past the surface.  No - I am not going to be friends with everybody.  Conflicting personalities, the existance of jerks, that kind of thing.  But just because you don't like someone doesn't mean you can't co-exist peacefully.  If an elephant and a dog can become best friends, surely humans and humans can learn to live together.  Being in love with all ur neighbours is not a requirement.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e4OD8dxIry8

To begin our Yuletide Season...

Now that advent has begun, and we've lit candle number one. I think it's a good time to start sharing some Christmas cheer!!!!  And nothing gets me in the mood for Christmas more than snow, carols, and classic tv.

Well the snow I am afraid I have no control over.  But I want to take the opportunity to rediscover my love for one show in particular:  Charlie Brown's Christmas.

Now I know a lot of people never understood Charlie Brown as a kid.  Actually, I never really did.  It was only when I got older that I realized how hilarious it could be.  And Charlie Brown's Christmas is one of the only Christmas cartoons that really gets Christmas right; every aspect of it. I have three favourite parts of the show, and would like to share them with cyberspace.  :)

The first is Linus's famous scene:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DKk9rv2hUfA

The second is Lucy and Schroeder at the piano, when you hear for the only time in the whole series Schroeder's toy piano sounding like a toy piano:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ie0lJ1QCHZ4&feature=related

And the third?  Why, Charlie's tree of course!!!  Best moments are when Charlie Brown thinks he killed the tree, and when Pig Pen is singing with the others every time he moves his head the dust gets kicked up again. lol. : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J4Hv9YmhGpw

Christmas is my favourite time of year.  Seriously, I'm not just saying that.  I mean sure, it's cold here in Canada, and we sit inside by the fire more because we're snowed in that anything else - or because we forgot to plug in the car overnight and now it won't start in the -35 degree air, and there is NO fresh fruit to be found at the grocery store, but hey, that's half the fun!!  Mandarin oranges from China, 20 different kinds of nuts, baking and hotchocolate, crackling fires that smoke up your house before you figure out how to open up the chimney, lopsided snowmen and snowangles and snowball fights, shedding trees and precariously-balanced ornaments, midnight mass or any other incredible christmas service, and ta-da! We celebrate when a certain baby came screaming (presumably) into the world.  What other miracle deserves a happier time of year?!

Jane Austen Tidbits

Well my friends, we are coming to a close on Jane Austen week.  On this, our final day, I want to give you all a peak into the little known creations of our literary genius.

Jane Austen's novels, Pride and Prejudice, Sense and Sensibility, Persuasion, Northanger Abbey, Persuasion, and Emma, were published to wide acclaim, and have maintained their popularity.  However, there is one book that was published that is relatively little known.  I have this book my Dad got be for Christmas one year of the "complete works of Jane Austen," and it contains all the above novels, and this story:  Lady Susan.

Lady Susan is somewhat of a bizarre novel.  For one thing, it is written in the form of letters, from various characters, to other various characters, in the story.  Also, the main character of the entire novel is, in essence, the bad guy of the story. She is, in modern day terms, a cougar; a beautiful lady set on marrying a sweet (but gullible) young man ten years her junior for his fortune.  She has a strained relationship with her daughter, who is in everything the total opposite of herself, and when the young man that Lady Susan has designs on begins to fall for her daughter, choas, drama, and clever manipulation ensues.  The story is full of all the subtle Jane Austen wit that we love in her stories, but it also calls for a heightened degree of attention and intelligence on the part of the reader.  That's what I love.  Through telling the stories with letters,we only get peices of the story, and peices of the characters and their relationship with eachother, at a time.  We are therefore the detectives of the story, which makes the end seem further away, but makes it all the more worthwhile when it finally arrives.  A very interesting and intelligently peiced story, even though a man caught between a mother and her daughter initially seems rather uncomfortable.  It has been heralded as Austen's "wickedest tale".  The etext is available, but I would recommend you find a printed copy.  If not, here it is: http://www.pemberley.com/janeinfo/ladysusn.html

Another one of Jane Austen's works is an unfinished story called "Sanditon".  The original version has only the first 11 chapters, as jane Austen died before it could be completed.  What Jane Austen had in store for these characters is tantalizingly uncertain.  Let me say this:  I read all 11 chapters, was hooked, and when I turned the page and found there was no more, I froze with uncomprehensable dissappointment.  If you are able to get your hands of a book of Jane Austen's other works, which come in many forms, make sure it includes the 11 chapters of this fresh and new story, which had SO much potential, dealth with new issues (there is a mulatto heiress in there I think), and was young and witty.  Apparently I am not the only one who was dissappointed with its not having an end.  Someone completed it.  That's right.  It is now a novel, called "Sanditon: Jane Austen's Last Novel Completed"  by Jane Austen and Another Lady (marie dobbs).  I wish I could say that I have read it - but I can't!!!!  Based on my perusal of the reviews on Amazon however, it would appear that the other lady did a remarkably good job of staying true to Austen's language and wit.  One reviewer complained of Charlotte, who in Austen's beginning had all the marks of a strong character, began to weaken throughout the book (which would indeed be dissappointing, although unfortuantly suchthings occur in real life as well), and also that the novel contains an abduction scene that is far fetched from Austen's style.  However, all other reviews, including the rest of the critics, are full of praises for Dobbs' efforts and results, and I am quite determined to get myself a copy so I can judge for myself.

Another very sweet and promising tale she began is entitled "The Watsons," which I believe she began in her youth and abandonned.

Jane Austen also wrote some Juvenalia, small stories in her youth, which have been published.  There are several, and I am including a link to a site that has them, for anyone interested in peaking: http://www.austen.com/novels.htm

And finally, for all who have read or watched Mansfield Park, have you ever wondered about the infamous play, "Lover's Vows"???  Wonder no more!  I am including a link to a site where someone has summarized the plot of the play, and also included a helpful analysis of several reasons Edmund may have had objections to it:  http://www.austen.com/mans/vows/

And there you have it folks, Jane Austen week is at an end!  Somewhere in the near future I may take some days to go through Elizabeth Gaskell, and will definitly be doing a C.S. Lewis frame down the line.  Happy Austen week, go read the books, and definitly watch the movies!!!!

Emma

Here we are at the last book of Jane Austen's which I had yet to cover; saved the best for last!!

Emma is another book in which Jane Austen does something daring, by, in roughlyher own words, creating a heroine that only she could like.  Well, I know we all love Emma, but unlike most of Austen's other heroines, there are moments that we hate her too.  Emma is a delightful combination of heart and snobbery, intelligence and rashness, beauty and carelessness.  How more real could you get?  At times we may love her and at times we may want to jump into the book and give her a good hard slap.  But we can't.  We can only watch as the story unfolds, and as Mr.Knightly gallantly takes on the role of scolder we wish we could take, except he performs it with much better success - and more surprising results - than we ever could have.

If I say any more about the book, I would be raving for another full 5 pages.  So instead I will cut right to the chase, and share with you all the film adaptations of Emma:

1) Emma (1972) - This is again, the original BBC adaptation of the book.  It does a good job of following the book closely, and the costumes are good, and I enjoy the script of the title "Emma."  I have my quibbles with it though - the actress for Emma is far too old to play the part, and consequently, if finding an actor who maintained the age gap between Emma and Mr.Knightly, the actor for our hero is too old as well.  Emma's way of saying her "s"s gets on my nerves after a while too, and Frank - ANNOYING.  Some of the scenes also, I am not crazy about their interpretation.  However, Mr. Weston is a rather endearing fellow on the whole, and there is one scene in this movie I LOVE and wish the others had included - Emma has just returned from meeting Mrs.Elton and is venting heatedly to Mr.Knightly, who is taking it calmly and smiling, and while she is ranting she is walking around, rummaging through drawers, clearly looking for something although the audience is not sure what.  Finally she sits down with a sigh, done ranting, and having given up searching for the lost item.  Mr.Knightly quietly takes the scissors out from under her work and hands them to her - it was what she was looking for the whole time.  SO iconic of their entire relationship.  Youtube does not have a clip of this scene unfortunatly, but I would go so far as to recommend you rent it just to see that scene.  Here is a clip of various compiled scenes, and the first two are worth watching for some good lines :  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9740aM2wEMo

2) Emma (1996) - This is one of two 1996 versions, starring Kate Beckinsale and Mark Strong.  Personally, I think Kate Beckinsale does a pretty good job.  She is a much more subtle Emma than her counterparts, which doesn't always bide well with modern audiences, but which is much more real and to-the-times.  Some of the moments of this movie are priceless, and there is good comedy interspersed with everything else.  However, it is very rushed, and the realtionship between Emma and Mr.Knightly is not given much time. I find John Knightly in this version very endearing, so the clip I will include will be featuring him. Watch from 0:51 - 1:59: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1QCfYFo3OgQ&feature=related

3) Emma (1996) - Starring Gwenyth Paltrow and Jeremy Northam.  I LOVE this version.  And if I could only own two versions of Emma, this would be one of them.  The actors for Emma and Mr.Knightly are perfectly cast and have great chemistry.  The music is cute and brisk, meant to compliment the humour of the tale which this version certainly brings out.  Honourable mentions to Miss Bates (played by Emma Thompson's sister) who is HILARIOUS, and is also the same actress for Mary in the 1995 Persuasion; and to Mr. Elton, who is...special. lol.  One of my favourite scenes is at the Westons' Christmas party, when Emma and Mr.Knightly are settled beside eachother in a cozy conversation and Mr.Elton sits between them. lol.  I will include it here, please watch the whole thing, including the faces Mr.Knightly makes in the background, and you will be sure to smile!!!  Watch from 6:54 - 7:58: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Ajhny5XWwU&feature=related

4) Emma (2009) - the cream of the crop!!!  While it certainly hasn't replaced my love of the Gwenyth Paltrow version, it has bumped it down to second on the list.  This version is AMAZING.  Casting, music, visuals, script, everything AMAZING.  I have a few issues with one or two scenes that Romola Garai does, in particular the scene where Frank puts his head on her lap - which NEVER would have happened, I don't care what the circumstances were, however other than that, this movie is perfect.  Long, which makes it better.  Honourable mention to Mr. Elton, played by the same man who played Edmund in the most recent version of Mansfield park, in which he gives a totally opposite performance, and almost made me split my side laughing.  Couldn't choose a scene, that's how good it is, so here's a promo.  Watch the movie.  Promo: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FjPMEopKtDs

Worth noting that the film "Clueless" was based on the story of Emma.  :)

Mansfield Park

Jane Austen's "Mansfield Park" is a novel that challenges the status of a hero.  Think of all the book you've EVER read, or the movies that you've EVER watched.  What is the hero like?  Maybe he's upright or maybe he's a bad boy, but either way, he's usually got this secret confidence and charisma that always bursts forth at just the right moments.  Ok, well Fanny Price of Mansfield Park is not like that at all. 

Fanny is poor.  Fanny is timid.  Fanny is quiet.  Fanny never raises her voice or passionatly argues a case.  Fanny is delicate, obedient, and sensitive.  Sounds like a boring read?  Not on your life!

Fanny Price is the reminder to the English Literate class that people of ALL dispositions have worth, and that sometimes it is the ones that we underestimate that end up surprising us the most with their bravery and trust.  It also reminds us the the dreary tedium and frustrating stresses of daily life may end up looking quite like an adventure once one has reached the end of them.  Mansfield Park is about the story we all forget to see in everyday life, and everyday people.

So you've probably guessed by now that I love the book.  Well, you'd be right if you did.  This story however, proved to be intimidating to film makers for just the reason that I value it - Fanny was not "the strong modern woman."  But then, neither is every woman today...pretty sure I'm not.  Anyway, there have been three film adaptations of this novel.  One is excellent, one is terrible, one is good.  Here they are:

1) Mansfield Park (1983) - Let me first surprise you all by saying that this is the excellent version.  No joke!  Ok, before I praise it to the skies, it should be noted that the style of shooting (camera) is old, and the acting is in the older, more stage-like style as well, however unlike the old BBC versions of Pride and Prejudice or Persuasion, it is not wooden.  Actually, when placed in its time, the acting was quite modern and heartfelt.  The actress for Fanny stole the show - quietly of course - with her sincere timidity of manner, and her own astonishment at any bravery or obstinance she did display.  Edmund was good too - not handsome, and rather odd, but sincere and kindly, as he ought.  Tom Bertrand is a loveable scoundral.  Miss Crawford is quite good, despite a few scenes where I thought she was a little stiff.  Henry Crawford - well, his acting is a bit formal and put-on, but I get the distinct impression that that was done on purpose, because in the book, that is how he is.  Aunt Bertram offers humour, Aunt Norris offers someone to hate, and Sir Thomas offers us someone to misjudge and rediscover.  If you can put up with the length and oldness, worth it.  Fanny freaks at stupid fake Henry: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lJtn7wBSr1w

2) Mansfield Park (1999) - my advice? DON'T WATCH IT.  Ok, sure it has its moments.  But here is where film makers chickened out of making Fanny Fanny.  Rather they combined the story with bits of Jane Austen's life (which were poorly fit in), and decided to reinturpret the rest of the story in such a way as to leave little resemblence to the actualy story than the characters names and relations to eachother.  What made me the most angry, apart from EVERYTHING? Two things - First, Fanny is not Fanny; she is too strong, yet they try to script in unconfidence with it, and she is wishy washy with Mr.Crawford when she should have remained strong. Second - they villanize Sir Thomas.  I would burn scripts for that.Oh, and Miss Crawford is disgusting, Fanny walks into a public street with no corset in her pyjamas, and there is nudity.  And her brother William isn't in it.   The least offensive clip of the terribleness that I could find is the trailer, designed to sell the movie of course: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a2QJWA7ALcI&feature=related

3) Mansfield Park (2007) - this version is good.  It is too short, cutting out a lot of the story, and Billie Piper is a bit strong as Fanny, but surprisingly she does quite a good job of keeping the character timid and quiet.  Blake Ritson does a fantastic job as Edmund, a gentle and honest portrayal, completely opposite to his hilarious performance of Mr.Elton in Romola Garai's Emma.  Miss Crawford was terrible, but that was mostly the scripts fault for allowing her liberties only a very unrespectable woman would have taken in those days (ie, purposely exposing her leg from under her skirt).  Tom and Sir Thomas are good, and William is a sweetheart.  Fanny's relationship with William is very sweet, as it should be.  All in all, worth watching, which is why I am including a link to the first part of the film: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pmqSn4udSaM

Persuasion

This is another story which, I believe, was published after Austen's death.  It is an interesting one; for while it has all the humourous components of a Jane Austen novel, it may also be linked to her own life.  Jane Austen was dissappointed once in love, and lost her man.  So did the novel's main character, Anne.  But unlike Jane Austen, Anne is reunited with her would-be-soulmate 8 years after parting.  Whether or not time has changed them, I leave you all to the novel.  This is not one of her most popular works, but personally, I think it's a gem.  Read it if you can, if you enjoy a bit of drama, if you love tragedies averted, or if you have a crush on sailors.  There's something in it for you!

There have been three film versions made:

1) Persuasion (1971) - this movie does a good job of covering the whole story.  The rest of it, I can't say much for.  The Admiral has a good voice for the part, but none of the sailors look like sailors, and the girls...well, I wouldn't have married if I were a man either if all girls were like that.  :S   Acting is pretty awesome - that's sarcastic.  And Anne's hair; well it just makes me cringe.  If you would like to see why I wouldn't marry if I were a guy, or if you want to hear the Admiral's voice which I find very good for the part, here is a clip. Note that the main character, Anne, is the one sitting in the chair saying nothing, looking haggard, and probably secretly regretting the fate of her hair:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3owT4OYNHq8

2) Persuasion (1995) - If I could "persuade" anyone to watch a particular version, it would definitly be this one!!  In my humble opinion, it is the best.  Accurate portrayal of the characters, ridiculous characters coupled with humanity, perfect casting, and very accurate costumes.  The music is cute too, in its own way.  I have heard many people complain that the leading man is not handsome.  Well...he isn't.  I can't defend that.  But I would recall to the world that it is not only handsome men who are worthy of our notice, and also that, despite his odd look, he DOES look like he is a sailor; browned and weather beaten, and his acting is good, if rough (which is again, very sailor-like).  I would include a clip, but I think the film is too good for that, so here is the opening of the movie, which you may choose to explore: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KnEslmemgTI

3) Persuasion (2007) - this version is ok.  It's terrible in some respects and brilliant in others.  The casting is good, but the hair is a little dodgy, especiallly on Anne, who is CLEARLY dosed in hairspray.  The story is a bit disjointed and one cannot form much of a relationship with any of the secondary characters, however, the main acting is good, and the music in the opening is breathtaking.  Locations are good, ending is good.  Worth watching once, for sure.  One of my favourite scenes, mostly because of the daring approach of scenery.  Watch from 4:15 - 6:18.  Slight spoiler warning:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tZ-PbkVe0RQ

Northanger Abbey

That's right folks; I know there are a couple other more well-known Austen books left yet, but I am saving the best for last.  Northanger Abbey is the baby, if you will, of the Austen novels.  It was not published until after Austen's death, but it's style was very different than that of her other novels.  Not in terms of writing or humour, but in content.  Northanger Abbey is more reminiscent of the Victorian gothic novels of the day, and is perhaps intended as a parody or satire of the very genre.  The main character, a young and impressionable Catherine Morland, who has nothing heroic or remarkable about her, is swept up on an adventure (or an adventure in her eyes) - a trip to Bath!  But despite her overactive imaginative fancies, reality catches up with Catherine, and she learns a thing or two about life, trust and humanity by the end of the story.  It is cute, and especially today when the gothic theme is making a comeback with the rage of vampire and zombie-themed films and novels, Northanger is just as relevant as when it was written, and perhaps doubly comedic.

Northanger Abbey new much less fame than many of it's sisters in the literary world, however it was certainly recognized enough to produce screen versions.  Here they are:

1) Northanger Abbey (1986) - The only relatively positive thing I can say about this film is that the English is pronounced very clearly.  Yeah.  Pretty much it.  The main actress's name is "Googie."  Which pretty much sums up the entire casts' acting abilities.  The music is not only terrible, but the attempt at adding modern instruments (which may sometimes be done effectively) was very clumsy, the make-up is atrocious as they have attempted to combine pre-Georgian looks with Victorian looks creating an unified and ghastly atmosphere in the public scenes, the dream-scenes are almost stomache-churning in their eeriness, the script is very dumb, and the characters warped.  Don't watch it.  But if you nonetheless feel compared to test by judgement, let me at least direct you to a clip where the stupidity is more comical than nausiating.  Watch 8:04-8:54, the acting being laughable, especially the expression on the guy's face in the last second: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0HQVEpcVrmg

2) Northanger Abbey (2007) - A far superior version than the earlier version.  Not only are the costumes, makeup, music and acting better, but the humour is kept in the story!  This is a very good interpretation of the story, and although i would of course recommend, as in all Jane Austen's story, that you read the book, this film tells it pretty well.  It's cute and fun and has some surprising twists.  I would definitly recommend it on a rainy afternoon!  :)  For comparison's sake, I will include a link to the same scene which I advised for the earlier version, and you may judge the acting and camera for yourself.  3:30 - 4:57:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VO2tmarMzO4&feature=related

Sense and Sensibility

Here we go with another of Jane Austen's brilliant masterpeices.  Personally, I love this book.  It's about two sisters who approach life very different ways.  This is argueably one of Austen's most realistic stories in terms of characters, for although it is completely possible to see the reality in all her most ridiculous characters, most of the ridicule in Sense and Sensibility is actually quite, well, REAL.  Like, I know people exactly like that, without the slightest exaggeration - match-making Mrs.Jennings and stupid selfish Fanny who essentially whips her husband, and Charlotte who just wont. stop. talking!  It is a very endearing book, in which most women can identify with one of the sisters quite strongly.  A cad who has a heart, though perhaps not enough of one.  And an amazing end!

I remember once I did a "which Jane Austen character are you?" quiz online, and I got Eleanor.  I'll tell you something; it secretly made me proud.  But please don't suspect me of any vanity concerning that!

Any modern crazy adaptations you may ask?  Well - Sense and Seamonsters, following Pride and Prejudice and Zombies.  Again, I refuse to read it, so am in no position to judge or recommend it's worth.

There have been several film adaptations of this novel, and they are all quite different.  Though not as widely adapted to the screen as Pride and Prejudice, it has inspired some very good scripts.

1) Sense and Sensibility (1981) - There is, I fear, very little excuse I can make for this film.  Despite it's being a long adaptation, they left out characters - most particularly distressing was how they ignored little Margaret's existance entirely!  The costumes were accurate again, but there was not very much spark throughout, and although it did admitadly have some decent scenes, the ending was atrocious in my opinion.  Here is a clip that was not too too badly acted, but that is compared to the rest of the movie, not to acting in general.  When Marianne sees Willoughby at the ball in town: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2I05rEYA-TY&feature=related
2) Sense and Sensibility (1995) - This is tied for my favourite with the most recent version.  I love, love, love it, and all the characters are portrayed exactly as they should be!!!  It is shorter, so doesn't have time to deal with absolutely everything, but nevertheless manages to be true to the story, artistic, and touching.  And here's an interesting fact: the actress for Eleanor and the actor for Willoughby (Emma Thompson and Greg Wise) are married in real life!!! Yeah, I know, who knew?! I am including a clip, but not what most may expect; this clip is a compilation of all the scenes involving Mr.Palmer, who is played brilliantly by none other than Hugh Laurie.  Yup, for real.  He's sarcastic, has perfect comedic timing, is the brunt of his wife's chatter and livliness, and underneath has a surprisingly good heart.  Here  you are: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B8T53_req48

3) Sense and Sensibility (2008) - an amazing version!!!  The only quibbles I have with this version is the terrible interpretation of Mr.Palmer, and that Edward was not quite shy enough, which is unfortunate because I feel like the actor would have made a very endearing shy guy.  Other than that, the music, scenery, camera, costumes, and acting were all superb, and the story well drawn out.  I am attaching a clip to the first few minutes of the movie, but recommend that you watch 5:00 - 7:31.  Almost my favourite 2 1/2 minutes of the movie, the characters of all three Dashwood sisters are covered eloquently, and the humour is AMAZING - focus especially on the children, Margaret and Little Henry, and you will get your laughs!: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R3HY4e2Ejuk&feature=related

Pride and Prejudice

Jane Austen's first, and perhaps most famous book, its first draft under the name "First Impressions" was rejected by publishers.  Just goes to show you, if at first you don't succedd, try try again, and you could become famous!

It is a truth universally acknowledged that a single man in possession of a large fortune must be in want of a wife....yeah, Pride and Prejudice is one of my favourite novels ever!!!  The story touches on a million different character types: the sharp and witty Elizabeth, the proud and aloof Darcy, the sweet and gentle Jane, the happy and agreeable Bingley, the unjustly vain Mary, the more justly vain Caroline, Lydia the spoiled child, and Kitty the follower, Lady Catherine used to having her way, Georgiana innocent and gullible and romantic, Wickham a regular common cad, practical and sensible Charlotte, ridiculously shallow Mrs.Bennet, cynical and impatient Mr.Bennet, and everyone's favourite:  Mr.Collins the creep.  Not a bad creep overall, but a creep nonetheless.

The story of Pride and Prejudice is remarkable, if you think about it.  No matter who you are, there is something in it that reflects some mistake you've made.  But in the end, true love conquers all...or almost all, Darcy's bribe conquers Wickham afterall.  The story reminds us of our own faults, but also assures us that there is happiness out there for imperfect people who are learning to be better.

Pride and Prejudice has SO many adaptations!!!  In modern times, there has been a book published under the title of "pride and prejudice and zombies" - personally, I refuse to read it, but I know some fans who find it entertaining.  More impressive however, are the numerous film adaptations the novel has inspired:

1) Pride and Prejudice (1940) - the original black-and-white filmed version starring the beautiful Greer Garson, and Sir Lawrence Olivier.  This film is very condensed and perhaps not entirely accurate, as it is based on the stage play rather than the novel itself.  It is however, very very good.  The casting is excellent, and the jokes are really smirkingly-funny.  Interested in checking it out?  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OB1eiXMVTJc

2)Pride and Prejudice (1979) - this may be regarded as the original movie, as it is BBC's first adaptation of the novel itself.  It's a long movie, and to the modern viewer the acting may seem staged and the camera static, but when you consider that such was the style at the time, it is actually not half-bad.  Of all the P&P adaptations, this has THE MOST accurate costumes for the Regency period.  This is a clip where Darcy and Bingley return to Meryton, and although not the best clip in terms of acting, it is a good example of accurate dress: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lFAepxCBYhM&feature=related

3) Pride and Prejudice (1995) - My Favourite Version!!!! Starring Jennifer Ehle and Colin Firth.  The movie is long enough to touch on all subjects of the book without leaving out characters or condensing their stories, the settings are perfect, the acting is good, and the costumes are excellent.  And Mrs. Bennet is HILARIOUS. One of my favourite scenes: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_GHm4MK6F1Y&feature=related

4) Pride and Prejudice (2005) - an amazingly fun and artistic version of the story, starring Keira Knightly and Matthew McFadgen (i spelled that wrong).  The best soundtrack of any version by far, and stellar acting on all accounts.  If you don't have the time to watch the 1995 version, this is the next best thing.  Honourable mention goes to Tom Hollander, who played a brilliant Mr.Collins!!!  This is a music vid someone made dedicated to his character - the beginning of this vid is side-splittingly funny, and although the middle drags, the ending is worth holding in for!!!  Here is Mr. Collins, "Bringing Sexy Back": http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EYtJCY4Epco

5) Pride and Prejudice 2003 (2003) - this is a modernized version of the story, and I believe-although i could be wrong-that is might be a Mormon production??  While the story is modernized a bit clumsily, the budget is low, and the acting is a bit shoddy, I have to admit that it has its moments.  And those moments make me laugh.  If you're willing to go through some pain to discover those moments, this is a clip with one of the better scenes: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Eb3eWvzA5A  that is from 1:08 to when she leaves the restaurant.  Note: her inferior financial/social situation shown by the old unreliable bug, and how she cuts someone off while driving showing she isn't perfect; the restaurant is called "Rosings" as is seen on the menu cover, and the seating host's unwelcomiing demeour, while poorly scripted, serves to remind us of Lady Catherine's condecension.

6) Lost in Austen - a recent British series, where a young modern British woman accidentally falls into her favourite novel - Pride and Prejudice, and in trying to get home, ends up messing up the whole story.  Personally I think this whole series would have Jane Austen turning in her grave, but it must be said the story has originality going for it, and things are not always as they seem.  Here is a clip from episode three, where it ought to be watched from 1:15 onwards - Amanda is thrown out of the Bennet house, and wearing her London cloths, meets up with Wickham.  Wickham, though perhaps not entirely respectable, is not at all as bad as in the novel, and here he gives Amanda some amusing tips on Regency Feminine Decorum and Poise. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ktKZDsVgrmw

Well there you have it folks!  One of the greatest novels of the English language, and one of the greatest love stories of all time.

It's Jane Austen Week!!!

Well it's Sunday, and I with all the work I have to do, I thought to myself, "what better time to do a Jane Austen week than now?"  That's right; I am going to have one day devoted to every book Jane Austen had completed and published, and will add on two works that she wrote that I am betting much of her fan-base has never heard of!

My official week-long Jane Austen series will begin tomorrow, Monday, but let me introduce you all breifly, and very unofficially, to the author:

Jane Austen was born in the late 1700s, and lived during the Regency period.  Often we fall into the trap of saying her novels were Victorian - indeed, I often say that myself, but the Victorian era began only when Princess Alexandrina Victoria took up the throne as queen, which was well after the death of Jane Austen.  The Regency period is named for the Prince Regent George, who acted as Regent for his father, because his father was deemed by parliament as insane, and thus unfit to rule.  However, George had to remain regent until his father's death, when the then became King George IV (or VI, I forget which).  The regency period saw the Napoleonic Wars, the War of 1812, the introduction of gas lighting in the streets of London, and the introduction of cotton spinning machines, although industrialization did not reach its peak until later, as reflected in the writings of Elizabeth Gaskell.

Jane Austen had a few dissappointments in love, but she never married.  Cassandra, her elder sister, was her closest friend.  They wrote many letters to eachother.  From her letters and her writings we may see that Jane Austen had a very synical sense of humour, which is undeniably amusing, but there was underneath, what must have been a very sensitive soul.  Her novels which I will address, though perhaps not in the following order, are: Pride and Prejudice, Sense and Sensibility, Emma, Mansfield Park, Persuasion and Northanger Abbey.  They have been printed and re-printed, inspired parody stories, and have been adapted into many film versions.  And if you stay tuned for the rest of the week, you will soon see why!

Let me just note that in reference to the life of Jane Austen, there are two modern films: Becoming Jane, starring Anne Hathaway and James McAvoy deals with her earlier life, and Miss Austen Regrets deals with the later years of her life.  There are many biographies that have been written regarding her life, and many of her letters have been published, though her sister Cassandra burned many of the letters Jane had written her after Jane's death. Many people say that this destruction robbed the world of a great insight into the author's thoughts.  However, I have to say that if I had been Cassandra, I would have done the same.  The letters were intended only for her, and as Jane Austen's own stories hint, letters are private things that must not go astray!

Trailer for Becoming Jane: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OYViBfUvSOA

Preview of Miss Austen Regrets:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pddz_MR1WkY

I apologise; I have been remise in my updates to this blog as my life spirals on in its usual pattern of mis-managed, mis-understood chaos.  But I log on again to share some very exciting news that I think is of enormous importance:

They Voyage of the Dawn Treader is coming to theatres December 10th!!!  For anyone asking - yes, that is the third installment of C.S.Lewis' masterpeice: The Chronicles of Narnia!

So lots of reasons to be pumped about this.  Lots.  The main one being that C.S.Lewis is one of the greatest geniouses the world has ever seen.  The story is incredible, the acting is good, the scenery promises to be breathtaking.  And "our beloved Prince Caspian" is now King Caspian...which rocks, frankly.

I dunno if you all heard about the drama surrounding the production of this movie, but it almost didn't get made at all, because Disney dropped it; it was later picked up by Fox.  So if you loved the first two movies, or if you love the brilliance, tenderness, truth and sarcastic wit of the books, go and see this movie!!!!!  It promises to be an adventure.  :)

A Culinary Experiment Gone Right

You know those free recipe magazines that grocery stores give out just to make you buy the store-brand products?  They recommend that you buy this highly-processed, all-cornsyrup-and-salt sauce for your meat and use this frozen vegetables mixture for your stews.  Ok, well take the inspiration, but not the processed advice!  Here's an expirement I ran with the help of my trusted roomate, where I made an orange-ginger stir fry without the premade sauce or premixed & frozen vegetables.  It's worth testing your kitchen skills, because it's only by testing that you learn how to improve, and what is just right the way it is.

My Experiment of Orange-Ginger Stirfry

Ingredients:
-1 clove garlic
-1/4 large onion
-handful of bean sprouts, green beans, and brocolli peices
-handful of fully cooked chicken (whatever you use to make soup or broth you can use here, or other leftovers)
-4 slices of ginger root (worth buying a root and slicing it yourself)
-1/4 cup orange juice
-1/2 spoon of cornstarch

Directions:
1.  heat the orange juice in a small pot.  Add the cornstarch and stir until slightly thickened.  Turn down heat to the lowest setting, and set one thin slice of ginger to rest in it.
2. In a frying pan, fry the sliced garlic clove, the chopped onions, and other 3 slices of ginger in some olive oil.  Add vegetables and meat and stir.  Add the orange sauce, and a few dashes of soy sauce, stir well.  Sprinkle with red-pepper-flakes.
3. Serve over rice.

This is a nice sweet&salty stir fry with a spicy kick!  :D 

Immortal World Tour

Love him or Hate him, in the world of music Michael Jackson had it goin' on.  His personal life was his own messed up buisness, but his music was the world's, and the world loved it.  Yeah, I am a secret Michael Jackson fan.  Can't help it, his music's just so catchy!  And his dancing...well, it was his dancing.  And his legacy is pretty incredible, music-wise.  I mean people are still buying his records, inmates in the Philippines are doing his dances, and kids still dress up like him for Halloween.  But something new is coming to town, and it is freakishly amazing, which is very appropriate for the late King's style:

"Michael Jackson the Immortal World Tour"

Ok, you think that's dumb or repetitive or stupid?  Well it isn't!  Know why?  Because it's Cirque du Soliel!!!!!  That's right, Canada's own Cirque du Soleil is putting on a classic Cirque show with all MJ music, with MJ moves, but all Cirque du Soleil-ish.  Awesome?  I think so.

The clips of the show, however brief, look fantastic, and they are in Canada October 2011; in Ottawa on the 7th.  If anyone gets tickets, you HAVE to film it for me - this is gonna be a show to remember, and a tribute to the music that gets three generations tapping their feet.

Clip to a preview of the show: http://www.cirquedusoleil.com/en/shows/michael-jackson-tour/default.aspx

Kicked outta Facebook, Pulled into World

Who here doesn't have a facebook account?  Nobody? Yeah, that's what I thought.  Nobody that is, except me.
Well I suppose that isn't strictly true.  I do have a facebook account - two of them actually - they just both have viruses.  I cannot get onto them, and I cannot delete them because I can't get on.  My information and pictures are just sitting there, idling, in cyberspace.

It's been two weeks now, and let me tell you all how it's been.  Last week I was of the opinion that facebook was the greatest social networking system in the whole world, last week I thought if a friend didn't add me on facebook they were no friend at all, last week I felt rejected and lonely and completely ignorant of everything because facebook and I had a falling out.

I learned something since last week.  I learned I was right.

JUST KIDDING!!!  In all seriousness,  I did learn something, but it wasn't to wish my dependance on facebook was still happening.  If you have real friends, they will email you or call you or text you, or they will weasle their way through everyone of your mutual acquaintance until they gain access to that sort of contact information.  And the time I am saving by not wasting it on facebook is incredible!!!  Although youtube is in danger of becoming my next big source of distraction...

Facebook is great, don't get me wrong.  But it risks furthering us from the "personal" in relationship.  Take personal out of relationship and you get: tishi...which as any of you good people may realize, may be rearranged to spell a not-so-G-rated-word with a prolonged vowel.  And it's true!  So next time your friend needs a hug and you're too far away to reach them, call them.  Next time your friend needs a slap in the face and you're too far away to reach them, call them in the middle of an exam.  And next time you wanna talk - talk.  You'll notice the difference.  I did.

Coffee, All-Nighters, and Chocolate: The Makings of Hero

I can't speak for the guys out there, but I can speak for the girls - and I am sure this applys to a couple guys whether they admit it or not.

College - University- the place you go after 12-13 years of school to get more school.  And the time you start wishing, with real sincerity, that school had never been invented.  And the time you start dreaming, with real sincerity, of a life beyond schoool.  Troublesome romantic notions occupy brainspace that you could have otherwise used for studying midterms - you dream of traveling far-away places, discovering a fish species while scooba-diving previously unknown to science, marrying your dream soul-mate, winning the lottery and not having to pay tax on it, and the ultimate - finishing school.

But while such romantic notions are immediatly unattainable (mostly for reasons of budget - how could you afford to travel, scooba-dive, marry, buy a lottery ticket, or get grad photos taken?), there is one romantic image that most students embody unconciously; the hero that has humbly walked and humbly conquered since the year grammar school was invented in England all those years ago.  Our hero is:  The Knight of The All-Nighter.

You think I jest?  I do not!  Just think about it - any man or woman who survives the stress and exhaustion of the week, then challenges an entire night's sleep, fights with the English language and the boundaries of logic and reason and sore eyes to complete an essay, then walks to his/her class boldy and gallantly, and humbly submits his/her burden to the instructor, only to worry for two weeks whether or not it is worthy of a pass - they deserve knighthood and nobility.  Their younger siblings and the kids they used to babysit will look up to them in admiration, and their aging parents will admire the way that two cups of coffee and a box of chocolates could get them through the whole night with enough energy to stay alive in class the next day.  It takes not only youth, but strength and determination and intelligence (and an abundance of caffeine and sugar) to sustain a hero through such a journey.

Today I would like to salute all my fellow-heros and heroines who have fought and conquered the sleepy night, and gone on to acheive greatness through a passing mark on the proof of their toils and labours: the body of the dreaded essay, which we have acheived through ordeals of fire.  Don't give up - Christmas Break awaits you!

Losing the "Commune" in Community

Today I had some sad news.

The day started off great.  Me, my roomate and my little sister all went down to the local Farmer's Market, which is always a fantastic experience.  This time we were a bit more daring in our purchases, besides the usual onions, potatoes and carrots we bought Red Pepper Jelly, Bison meat, Cow Neck, and Purple Cauliflower.  No, I'm not lying, the cauliflower is a beautiful lavendar colour, and I've been informed it will turn mauve when cooked.  Not sure exactly what mauve is, but I'm assuming it's pretty.  :P

After a great time outside in the spitting rain and the cold wind buying local fresh goods, we went inside the building beside the outdoor farmers market, where there is a sort of flea market on weekends.  It's a cute little place - not many stalls, but the ones that are there are cute.  There is quite a variety too, from people who have handmade animals hats and baby blankets, to antique and homemade jewlery, to native-american art to old books and movies, to crossbows (yep, for real), to custom hula hoops.  Well we just found out from one sweet older lady who works at a jewlery stand that this may well be the last year of the flea market in our town.  Somehow or other, it is no longer economically viable, and the building is to be sold.

I understand the importance of markets being economically viable.  Really, I do.  But there is something in that romantic nature of mine that tells me there is a loss in the vanishing of a local market, beyond the fact that I will no longer be able to find jewlery for under $5.

Local markets are a place where everyone in the community can come, and support local people trying to make their living.  It is a place beyond contracts and middle-men and beeping cashes.  It's a place where you get to know the people you buy from, you come to trust some and be wary of others, you interact with the people who MAKE your food, you care about them, and they care about you.  There is an understanding that can develop between counting out exact exact change, and trading it for a huge clove of garlic, or a hand-carved salad bowl.  A human connection that is swiftly being lost in an increasingly fast-track commercialized society.  This is not to bash capitalism - I'm all for capitalism...I guess this is just to bash commercialism, which detaches us from our food and clothing, and from our neighbours who produce them.

I really do believe that we should all try our best to keep the "commune" in community; find places where you can buy things from people, not computers or contracted companies, and take the time care about not only what you are buying, but those who provide them to you.  There's nothing I love more than walking into a shop that isn't too too crowded, where the employees smile at you and recognize you and maybe even know what you're looking for.  That's where our money should be; where our hearts and our smiles are.

The Life&Times of a Student Kitchen

Anyone who's struggled with a budget knows what "A Student Kitchen" means - pretty much, you've got most of the basics, and are missing most of the tools and utensiles.  Which makes cooking impossible...right?? - Well, remember, cooking was happening long before the potatoe masher, the spatula, and even the electric stove were invented.  My motto in the kitchen is "If the pioneers could make this, then I can too!"  All you need is some ingenuity!

I'll let you in on some food projects my friends and I have undertaken in our student kitchen:

1) Making meatloaf with no loaf-tray.  Solution: cook the meat in an all-metal pot, in muffin-trays, or in carefully-shaped aluminum-foil; yes that is possible, trust me.
2) Mashed potatoes with no potato-masher.  Solution: Use the bottom of a clean glass.  Works!
3) Home-Made Icecream without a mixer for the whipped cream.  Solution: Three girls, one wisk and two forks.  It's a good way to vent frustration and build some arm muscles.  Maybe the whipped cream wasn't quite whipped, but it thickened enough to make some killer home-made icecream!!!  :)
5) Hummus, sans blender or food processor.  Here again, we mashed up the chickpeas, along with everything else, with the bottom of a glass.  It didn't look as smooth as it could have, but taste was not compromised. (we did that one today!)

And then there are the usual- pots instead of salad bowls and mugs instead of cereal bowls.  Never be afraid to cook as a student because you're not equipped like a pro.  Remember, the pros learned from their teachers, who learned from their grandmothers, who learned from their grandmothers, who would have laughed in scorn at the idea of a garlic press or a lightbulb in an oven.

The Life&Times of our Student Kitchen (minus a few minor fires of course) is pretty darn awsome.  :)

My Halloween Challenge Freaking You Out?

Well, it's that time of the week - the Halloween countdown on our block has begun!  Families are putting out there decorations, which have developed a nasty habit of blowing away in the wind these last few days, and neighbourhood kids have been trying on their costumes over their school cloths and running down the street to break them in.  True to form, my house was able to take on my Halloween challenged issued on the last post.  Here's an update:

We made super-baggies this year!  With extra sandwich glad bags, we put in one super-cool-designed pencil, one milk chocolate race-car, one candy necklace, and two individual bags on Maynard's candy (sour peaches, sweedish berries, etc).  The bags are fun and colourful, contain something useful, and kids love to see what's in them.  22 baggies, and lots of candy left over for any extra kids!  :)

So let's break that down - The Maynard's 75 candy pack was, rounding up, $7.  The Big bin of candy necklaces was $5.  The chocolate cars were $4 in total, and the 22 pencils I got in two seperate packs at the dollar store, each costing $2.  That brings the cost up to $20, not including the glad sandwich bags, which were already in our kitchen.

We took a trip to the grocery store and went food-happy!  A 2kg bag of rice, a big bag of noodles, a can of peas, of corn, and of mixed vegetables, a box of couscous, two cans of tuna, and three big cans of heart Habitant soups&stews brought the count to just under $22.  We bought that list, and left the bags in the food-bank bin at the back of the grocery store.  And it was a lot of fun shopping for food for someone else!

And there you have it - proof this challenge is possible!  But why go on hearsay - try it yourself and see!!!  You'll be surprised at how fun, and thrifty, it can be!!  So go on, give your inner-Scrooge a scare, and tackle the Halloween challenge!  You'll be glad you did.

A Halloween Challenge to Scare your Inner-Scrooge and Cheer your Inner-Crachet

I apologize for mixing metaphors in the title, but it seemed appropriate for the challenge I'm about to issue.

People usually either love Halloween, or they hate it.  Those in between usually like nothing about it except handing stuff out to the cute kids, or buying candy on sale Nov. 1 at Walmart.  Whichever category you fall into, this challenge is for you.
The key to this Halloween Challenge is to remember one thing:  Most kids want candy; All kids need food.

So the challenge is:  FIRST: To all you folks buying candy - either to hand out, or on sale - keep track of how much you are spending on candy.  Then take the same amount you spent on your candy, and buy the equivalent in foodstuffs for your local food bank.  SECOND: For those of you who hand out candy, keep some cans handy to hand out to trick-or-canners, in addition to what you've bought for the food bank yourself.  THIRD: slightly unrelated to food, but if you want to make your treats to kids enjoyable for longer than the 10 seconds it takes them to chew it, consider making baggies that include a chocolate bar, and shiny halloween penicl or a cool halloween eraser (I used to be very proud of getting those as a kid myself) and maybe even a colourful-looking pack of dental floss.  Be creative!

The foodbank needs your support to feed people in your community.  Remember that hunger is usually invisible.  It's really easy to give - if you can't make it to the foodbank to drop things off yourself, your grocery store will usually have a bin at the back for donations.  Here is a list of some foods in high demand at most foodbanks, and some other things that might make your donation unique:

-Rice   -Flour   -Canned vegetables   -Peanut Butter   -Honey   -Canned soups or broths    -Noodles    -Pasta Sauce   -Jam   -Canned Fruits   -Canned Meats / Fish   -Powdered Milk   -Baby Formula   -Fruit Juices 

So let's make this Halloween one with an impact.  Please participate in this challenge, and even let me know how it goes!  I will definitly let you all in on the weight of my house's after Halloween. 

And remember - Most kids want candy; All kids need food.

A Cool Project to Fill a Guy's Spare Hours...

Have you started planning for your retirement?  I don't just mean starting savings bonds and RRSPs, but thinking about what you're gonna DO with yourself after you don't work anymore.  Well here are some ideas:  What's more exciting than a world tour of all those places you've only dreamed of but were too poor to back-pack in your youth?  What could be more cozy than investing in a cottage, tucked away under Canadian lake-side foliage?  And what could be more natural than turning your handy-man side to builidng a scale replica of Noah's Ark?

That's right - I said Noah's Ark.  But don't think I am brilliant or original, because it's been done.

Meet Johan Huibers, a Dutch contractor who, wanting to exemplify his faith in the Bible's literal truth, built a model of the ark, to scale.  Now whether his faith was coupled by slow buisness or bored retirement, I don't know, but if it was I'm kinda glad, because this thing is AMAZING.  If you look at the picture, this thing is HUGE, and yet it isn't even the full size given in the Bible.  And what gets me most of all is, it's stationed in a port.  Yeah, that does mean it floats.  He built a freakin ark and it floats.

Construction began in 2005, Johan using modern tools, and working on it largely solo, with the help of his son.  Apparently his wife helped with the drawings as well.  I believe it is completely finished now.  It is enormous inside, with life-sized models of giraffes, elephants and bison inside, as well as containing as small petting zoo (which I think is a great and hilarious touch), and a small theatre that plays a film on Noah's life.  Oh - and it floats.

So three cheers for Johan, and I think his family also deserves a pat on the back.  Now you all have a challenge for your own retirements - don't just do something; do something cool!

For more pictures of the ark, check out this link to the photo gallery:
http://www.pbase.com/paulthedane/noahs_ark

A Touching Story never before told:

The Life of the Majestic Plastic Bag - sure to inspire and entertain:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GLgh9h2ePYw

Stress + Cold Season = Misery? How to fight it Off.

Well we all know how miserable it can be rushing off to work in the morning, or cramming for an exam, and struggling to breath through a stuffed nose and aching lungs.  Not only is it cold and flu season, but also a more stressful time of year as exams approach at school, and winter driving makes getting to work more strenuous.  So here are some helpful hints to fight off colds, and reduce your stress:

1) WASH YOUR HANDS!!  And this doesn't mean running them under water for three seconds.  Use soap and scrub, over your palms and between your fingers.  The two most important times to wash your hands are after you use the washroom, and before you eat.  You'll eliminate two bouts of the flu right there.

2)Diet - your diet plays an important role in both your ability to fight off sickness, and your stress reduction.  Drink a cup of Echincea tea, heavily steeped, every day to boost your immunce system.  Include a good variety of fruits and vegetables in your diet -  oranges, tomatoes, kiwi and apples are good sources of vitamin C, and their natural sugars will keep you from craving chocolate during your stressed moments.

3) Hot Toddys.  They deserve a point of their own.  Hot lemonade (or tea) with a spoonful of rum and a spoonful of honey before bed will stop your coughing and let you sleep.  But remember, even these should be drunk responsibly!  ;)

4)Sleep and Excercise - get enough of both!!!  If you are trapped inside by a snowstorm, run up and down the stairs - if you find that too embarassing, then do some excercises in your room.  This is will hugely reduce your stress, help you concentrate better, and help you sleep more soundly.  Sleep is the kicker - you need it.  Get it.

5) The Wind-down - if you need to wind down before you sleep, by all means do it, but don't let it be with activities that will keep you from falling asleep when you are able.  Watching movies at 11:30pm before bed probably isn't such a great idea, since it won't end 'til morning (I've learnt that by experience).  Instead, try turning off all the lights, lying under the covers, and playing music.  This will wind you down, and won't keep you up when you start getting drowsy.

And last but not least: Attitude.  Keep it up.  A positive attitude is truly the cure for most ills.  Stay happy, even when you feel like you're losing focus.  Spend time with your family and friends, think as positivly as possible, play a little and pray a lot, smile at strangers, and if all else fails - curl up in front of the tv with a funny movie.

Amazing Recipe: Kopakima

For those of you who are asking "Kopa-what's-a?" let me describe this as the best food ever. Period.  Ok, well you can't be a vegetarian, and you have to like curry at least a little bit, and you can't be on a diet that rules out carbs, because this is served with rice.  If none of the listed stipulations apply to you, read on, try, and enjoy.
Ingredients:
Olive oil
Spices: Ginger, Curry Powder, Salt, Pepper
1 medium onion
1 clove garlic
1 lb lean ground beef
1 large carrot
1 bunch spinach
1 cup tomato paste (make sure it has not been pre-spiced with anything other than salt)
Rice
Mango Chutney (you can find it at any grocery store, so don't worry)
Instructions:
Line the bottom of a large soup pot with olive oil.  Chop the peice of garlic and the onion, and brown at the bottom of the pot over medium heat.  Add ground beef, and spice with a dash of salt and pepper, 1 tsp of ginger, and 2 tsp of curry powder (not heaping tsps!).  Brown the meat.  Add chopped carrot, spinach and tomato paste.  Stir well.  Let simmer-stirring occasionally- for half hour, or until the carrots gain desired consistancy.  Serve in a bowl ontop of rice, and top with a generous spoonful of Mango Chutney.  Stir and Enjoy!!!!   :D

Welcome

A big Hello to the vastness of cyberspace and anyone floating through it who happened to end up here!  While I write this, my first official blog post, the Leafs are losing to Philly 5-2, which personally, I find a little depressing...if not unexpected.

Well, my first day here, I wanna share some great news that's made a lot of other Canadian Catholics happy:  Quebec's own Brother Andre has been SAINTED!!  That's right!  So if anyone out there thinks that just because they're not crazy-educated they can't make a huge impact, remember Brother Andre did!  Anyone interested in the story and Canada's response, here's a good link:
http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/canada/breakingnews/quebecs-brother-andre-canonized-as-canadas-1st-saint-of-the-21st-century-105128839.html  So congradulations Canada, and Congradulations Brother Andre!